Pacific volcano erupts near Marianas islands

SAIPAN, Northern Marianas – A volcanic eruption near the Pacific's Northern Mariana Islands shot clouds of ash and vapor nearly eight miles into the sky, federal scientists said.The eruption occurred early Saturday and appeared to come from an underwater volcano off Sarigan, a sparsely inhabited island about 100 miles north of the U.S. commonwealth's main island of Saipan.The Northern Marianas are about 3,800 miles southwest of Hawaii.USGS volcanologist Game McGimsey said Sunday that scientists are still trying to pinpoint the source but evidence is pointing to an underwater mountain....

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VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN GUATEMALA

CNN producer note:"chipi told CNN, 'It is my car and my dad next to it, i was returning from the university, it was really hard to drive because the ash was coming down with a bit of rain so it was kind of muddy and really hard to get off the windshield. I drove with my window open so I could see..."

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Pacaya volcano erupts near Guatemala City:Death toll climbs to 3...

Guatemala City, Guatemala (CNN)--The death toll from the eruption of a volcano in Guatemala has risen to at least three people, an official said Friday.Two villagers from El Bejucal and a reporter from CNN affiliate Noti 7 were killed as a result of Thursday's eruption of the Pacaya volcano, said David de Leon, a spokesman for the national disaster commission.The three victims were crushed by rocks strewn by the volcano.Pacaya, located about 15 miles (25 km) south of Guatemala City, began spewing ash and soot about 7 p.m. (9 p.m. ET) Thursday...
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7.2 quake hits South Pacific nation of Vanuatu

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 rattled the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu early Friday, triggering a tsunami watch for the area, officials said. There were no immediate reports of damage.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning for Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. It said the quake had the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that could strike coastlines in the region within minutes to hours.The warning center said it was not known if a tsunami was generated.The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at just after 4 a.m. local time Friday and was centered 300 miles (485 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Port Vila, at a depth of 22 miles (36 kilometers).Authorities in Vanuatu said they were checking for information on both the quake and the regional tsunami alert...

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