Scientists warn underwater volcano about to erupt and spew tons of lava

An underwater volcano located off the U.S. West Coast may be on the verge of erupting.

Axial Seamount, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) off the Juan de Fuca Ridge, is considered the most active volcano in the Pacific Northwest.

Scientists are closely monitoring the volcano using a high-definition camera placed at its summit—allowing anyone to witness the eruption in real time when it happens.

“The HD video focuses on the 14-foot-tall, actively venting hot spring deposit called ‘Mushroom,’ located within the ASHES vent field on the western side of Axial Seamount,” the Ocean Observations Initiative said in a statement.

The volcano last erupted in 2015, triggering a swarm of around 8,000 earthquakes. That eruption also produced a large lava flow and caused the seafloor to collapse by over 2 meters (6.5 feet).

Volcanologist Bill Chadwick told KGW: "It’s at or almost at that inflation threshold where it erupted last time. So, we think it’s ready."

According to Chadwick, an eruption could happen anytime now, with the potential to release significant amounts of lava and seismic activity beneath the ocean surface.

(QG - Source: The Daily Mail - Picture : © Unsplash)