Health officials also warned that the combined ash from newly erupting Cleveland volcano with that of Okmok could cause respiratory problems for residents of the small communities of Unalaska, Dutch Harbor and Nikolski.

Ash from Okmok, 90 miles from Cleveland’s crater, began falling over those areas last week.

People in Dutch Harbor say that ash has fallen for only one day during the current eruptive activity, but a volcanic haze was significantly reducing visibility in the usually pristine location.

While cloudiness prevented a clear view of the volcano shortly after the eruption began, vulcanologists said satellite infared data seems to indicate the presence of lava at Cleveland.

Photo: John Power - Alaska Volcano Observatory
Digg This