United States

Government Ranks 18 US Volcanoes as ‘Very High Threat'

The danger list is topped by Hawaii's Kilauea, which has been erupting this year

Government scientists are classifying 18 U.S. volcanoes as a "very high threat" because of what's been happening inside them and how close they are to people.

The U.S. Geological Survey is updating its volcano threat assessments for the first time since 2005. The danger list is topped by Hawaii's Kilauea, which has been erupting this year. The others in the top five are Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier in Washington, Alaska's Redoubt Volcano and California's Mount Shasta.

The agency says a dozen volcanoes have jumped in threat level since 2005. Twenty others dropped in threat level.

Among those where the threat score is higher are Alaska's Redoubt, Mount Okmok, Akutan Island and Mount Spurr. Threat scores also rose for Oregon's Newberry Volcano and Wyoming's Yellowstone.

There are 161 active U.S. volcanoes.

Threat Rankings for US Volcanoes:

1. Kilauea, Hawaii

2. Mount St. Helens, Washington

3. Mount Rainier, Washington

4. Redoubt Volcano, Alaska

5. Mount Shasta, California

6. Mount Hood, Oregon

7. Three Sisters, Oregon

8. Akutan Island, Alaska

9. Makushin Volcano, Alaska

10. Mount Spurr, Alaska

11. Lassen Volcanic Center, California

12. Augustine Volcano, Alaska

13. Newberry Volcano, Oregon

14. Mount Baker, Washington

15. Glacier Peak, Washington

16. Mauna Loa, Hawaii

17. Crater Lake, Oregon

18. Long Valley Caldera, California

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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