People Flocking To See MSH Erupt-CRAZY

[canegrl04]

Theres been reports of people so excited about MSH,they are flocking to get a good view for when she erupts again.Thats just dangerous.They are expecting a major eruption.Fresh magma continues to flow up toward the top.This thing could spew not only ash,but possibly lava and or rocks.They should have harsher inforcements of restricted areas.I hate to thing if she goes with a big bang,victims families will sue.

[Josephine96]

It could get extremely dangerous over there.. I hope these people don't become senseless

[zoeyann]

Honestly, I would not mind seeing this eruption first hand myself. Like most natural events that draw our attention it may be beutiful, but dangerous. I am certain the authorities making sure that people stay well out of harms way. My concern would be if the lava or pyroclast reaches farther than expected or those really ignorant fools that will try to get closer than they should (nuch like those people who go to the beach during a hurricane) My geology teacher said there are always tourist in Hawaii with the Basaltic lava flows.

[Aslkahuna]

One can get fairly close to the Hawaiian volcanoes since they are usually not explosive but subduction zone ones are more dangerous. However, the USGS is not expecting anything like 1980 so if they are far enough out (around 15-20km or so) then they should be safe.

Steve

[coriolis]

Volcano Chasers?

[ColdFront77]

Officials should be keeping them a safe distance away. The television (and radio) reporters are obviously
a safe distance away from the volcanic mountain. In fact, many of the spectators are along "that line."

[zoeyann]

Certainly Coriolis. I'm sure it is an amazing thing to witness and a rare experience. I guess you can chase anything.

[coriolis]

When I was younger, I chased skirts. That's infinitely more dangerous.

[Miss Mary]

ED!!!!! LOL

Question....does your wife ever read our posts here? Or more importantly, your posts?

You and j, both of you, always manage to make me laugh.

Mary

PS - and oh as for this topic, getting back on track, I think it's very risky for people to 'chase' volcano's, especially one like MSH that blew it's top in 1980! Would I go closer for a better look? No way, I'd watch from home...hey, maybe Stephanie Abrams is a little bored right now....whatta think? She could do a live shot for TWC.....that might make you chase skirts again though Ed.....better not go there, huh? LOL

[coriolis]

Mary, lets just say that now that I'm older and wiser I no longer engage in high risk behavior. That would include volcanos AND that other thing. Besides, when my wife blows her top, it would make MSH proud.

[pojo]

there is a possibility of MSH spewing within the next couple of days. We will discuss this in class tomorrow morning.

[Windy]

I dunno. I'd like to see it too. Looks like last time around was a blast:

[Tornado_Chaser2005]

I think they have all the right to chase this volcano. Basically what gives them a less right if I chase Tornadoes? I mean we Tornado Chasers are on the road while others are hiding in basements from these twisters. People think we are crazy for it. I do it for Research and Fun. I dont approve of people who just do it for fun. However a volcano is something that doesnt erupt voilently near us all the time, so seeing it would be great. If I had the time, I would be there in a second watching it when it goes up. So I guess its not all that crazy and no one should stop anyone who wants to see this go up.. The government, or law officials DONT OWN the volcano. Mother Nature owns it, and tells who will view her or not.

Tornado Chaser

[alicia-w]

Thank goodness this is on public land controlled by the Interior Department. You have to have a permit to hike there and they've stopped issuing those for the time being. It's not so much to protect the person who's gonna do whatever anyway, but to protect themselves from LIABILITY when some surviving family member hires a hotshot lawyer to get some cash from the govt.

I am here to tell you that the gasses and ash and stuff that are part of the eruption are DEADLY. We're not talking a little carbon monoxide. Those ash clouds are so dense, it feels like they just suck the air away.

So, let those people that dont have any better sense go do what they will and hope they took good pictures and that the camera & film are recoverable when they find the bodies...

[Anonymous]

They should be able to go to the Volcano but not climb it as common sense would say dont climb it as the ground may collapse you into a hole and you'd get stuck possibly to never be found.... But from the foot of the Volcano the ground would be more solid and less shaky, It would be safer than us in fla going to the Beach for a hurricane or Chasing tornadoes or blizzards in the midwest and this is a much more rarer occurance thus pics would be a must

[Brent]

It's only a matter of time before this erupts big time. There was a long and much more intense steam explosion around 10am PDT this morning, plus the quakes aren't stopping and the lava is moving faster towards the surface.

It's a ticking time bomb.

I think the tourists are safe 7 miles from the site. The odds of it being large enough to threaten life that far away is extremely slim.

[abajan]

Volcanoes can be unpredictable. A few years ago, some volcanologists (experts who ought to have some idea about when a volcano would erupt) lost their lives whilst others in their party were badly injured.

This happened in Colombia on a volcano called Galeras (or something like that).

I'd keep my distance from MSH.

[Brent]

I believe some were killed in the 1980 Helens eruption as well...

[Persepone]

Something like 87 people were killed in the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption.

[alicia-w]

I think it was 57 people killed. But seven miles away is not that far when you're talking a fairly large explosion. The mudslides were what killed a lot of folks in 1980. I dont recall what the roads around there are like (direction away from the mt), but it seems to me that there's always a chance of getting caught on a road or being cut off. And THEN what are ya gonna do? Huh? Eat trail mix and jerky and breathe ASH? That stuff doesnt hit the ground cold either. It's pretty hot stuff. I mean, it's vaporized mountain!!!