Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, Department of Natural Resources, State of Washington. |
Abandoned vehicles in Green River Valley. The northward directed lateral blast, loaded with volcanic debris, caused widespread devastation as far as 19 miles from the volcano. An area on the fringe of the devastation is shown here. In this zone referred to as the seared zone, the trees remained standing but were singed by the hot gases of the blast. A similar laterally directed explosion is thought to have occurred at Mount Saint Helens about 1,100 years ago. The photo was taken on May 24,1980. Image Credit: Department of Natural Resources, State of Washington May 18, 1980 Mount Saint Helens USA volcano An earthquake occurred at 15 32 UT, only seconds before the explosion that began the eruption of Mount St. Helens volcano. This eruption and blast blew off the top of the volcano, reducing its elevation by 396 meters, killed 31 people and caused an estimated property damage of between $0.5 billion and $2 billion. About 53 earthquakes having magnitude larger than 4.5 were located near Mount St. Helens before the main event and eruption. No earthquakes having magnitudes higher than 4.5 were located following the eruption. |
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