Molten rock reached the surface at Mount St. Helens on 13 October 2004, capping nearly three weeks during which the Washington state volcano kept geologists on alert for a possible major eruption.
Steam columns rose from the crater on both Tuesday and Wednesday as the peak vented pressure. Scientists confirmed that a new lava dome was taking shape inside the crater, with the US Geological Survey describing the lava as sitting at very shallow depth. Steam rising from the fin area was carried to the southeast by strong winds.
Washington Geological Survey scientist Samantha Magsino said the mountain was entering "a new period of dome growth," with periodic quiet lava explosions likely to follow.
Seismic readings around the peak remained subdued, which scientists said indicated no imminent large-scale eruption. Mount St. Helens had last erupted in 1986.
The volcano's most destructive episode came in May 1980, when an eruption killed 57 people and buried much of the US northwest under a thick layer of ash. Scientists said any fresh activity was unlikely to approach that scale.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.