Veniaminof volcano (Alaska): alert level raised to orange, lava flow observed

The volcano began erupting on Thursday morning, June 13, following several days of increasing seismicity, AVO reported. The official Color Code/Alert Level was raised to ORANGE/WATCH.
At least a small lava flow was erupted. A pilot observed an ash plume up to about 12,000 ft above sea level and a lava flow issuing from the intracaldera cinder cone. Residents in Perryville and Port Moller also reported observing the ash emissions at about 11:30 pm AKDT yesterday. Observers located west of the volcano reported that no ash was issuing from the intracaldera cinder cone this morning; however ash emission could resume abruptly at any time.
An FAA web camera in Perryville recorded minor steam with possible ash emissions rising from the intracaldera cinder cone on Monday, June 10. Seismic tremor continued to gradually but steadily increase over the next several days. On the morning of Thursday, June 13, intense elevated surface temperatures were recorded in satellite images at the intracaldera cinder cone indicating that an eruption was likely underway.
Recent satellite images show intense elevated surface temperatures at the intracaldera cinder cone consistent with the pilot report of the presence of lava. Volcanic tremor continues. The seismic network at Veniaminof is not fully functional compared to that operating during the last eruption (2005), so the accuracy with which we can interpret ongoing seismicity is diminished.