Alaska Mount Spurr volcano eruption fears spark panic buying frenzy

Fears of a huge eruption has sparked a panic buying frenzy as thousands of residents rush to stock up on essential goods. Nearly 300,000 people in Alaska are at risk ahead of the potential eruption of Mount Spurr, near Anchorage, amid increasing fears the 11,000ft volcano may be set to erupt following dozens of . According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, "volcanic unrest persists," after there were around "'55 earthquakes in the last week."

Mount Spurr is just 81 miles away from Anchorage and with the increasing fears of an eruption, residents have been placed on emergency alert. It has led to residents stocking up on batteries, pet food and protective food. Cloe Turner, who spent nearly £400 at Costco getting in the essential goods, admitted she is preparing for the worse ahead of the looming natural disaster. "We might not be able to work, and stores might not open,' she said. 'The last time something like this happened, the city was blanketed in ash for an entire month."

Another Anchorage resident took to TikTok to say she rushed to Walmart to get " and random" items to help protect her family from the impending disaster. "So a volcano is supposed to erupt in Anchorage, Alaska.

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"Am I prepared for said volcano? No. I'm here at Walmart today buying all of the things that I need to protect me from volcanic ash pouring all over the city,' the user said while walking inside a Walmart store. Some of these items are so weird and random, but they serve a genius purpose, people are very clever when it comes to this stuff."

She was also seen purchasing pairs of swimmer's goggles to "protect our eyes" as volcanic ash can irriate the nose, throat and eyes. It can cause serious health issues for people with asthma, other forms of lung disease and severe heart problems, the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (IVHHN) said.

While another local resident took to social media to share tips for people with contact lenses if they encouter volcanic ash. "I saw a post circulating on yesterday and it had some tips and tricks I haven't seen before so I wanted to share them with you,' a user posted on TikTok.

"If you wear contact lenses you need to remove them immediately when [the volcano] erupts' the user warned, adding that "the ash will tear your eyes up."

The advice comes as experts at the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) warned multiple earthquakes had been recorded in the last week. It said: "Unrest continues at Mount Spurr volcano. Seismicity remains elevated with occasional small, shallow volcanic earthquakes detected beneath the volcano over the past day.

"AVO continues monitoring activity at Mount Spurr for signals indicating that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption."

Meanwhile, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has detected hundreds of small tremors within a 30-mile radius of the volcano since the start of the month.