US volcano Mount St Helens erupts

SEATTLE, Washington - Restive US volcano Mount St. Helens erupted Tuesday, sending a plume of smoke and ash 10,800 meters (36,000 feet) into the air, officials said.
But the eruption of the volcano, which exploded into life in 1980, killing 57 people, did not appear to pose an immediate danger to people as the area is sparsely inhabited, they said.
"There was an eruption at 5:30 pm local time (0130 GMT) and the cloud of ash is estimated at 36,000 feet," Rob Harper told AFP. "We are monitoring the situation."
KOMO television in the Oregon city of Portland showed the giant plume hanging over the crater of the volcano which rumbled back to life last October after years of silence.
The huge plume of smoke and ash prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to order air traffic to avoid the area.

03/09/2005 02:33 GMT