MAKUSHIN VOLCANO

Over the past two weeks, there has been increased earthquake activity near Makushin Volcano. The activity started on June 15 with a magnitude 4.2 earthquake, followed by several additional significant earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 3.1 to 4.1 over the next 24 hours.

These larger earthquakes have been accompanied by over 850 smaller ones located by the Alaska Volcano Observatory since mid-June. 

More than half of the City of Unalaska's tsunami sirens aren't functioning, according to city officials.

The city tested its tsunami sirens, which were purchased in 1996, on Wednesday. Three out of seven worked. 

Following a number of earthquakes near Makushin Volcano earlier in the week — which prompted the Alaska Volcano Observatory to increase the volcano's alert level to "advisory" — local concern about Unalaska's emergency preparedness has been elevated.

Updated 06/15/2020 at 7 p.m.

A magnitude-4.2 earthquake occurred under Makushin Volcano Monday afternoon and was felt in Unalaska.

At around 2:16 p.m., an earthquake at a depth of about five miles hit approximately six miles southeast of the volcano's summit, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Small aftershocks are continuing, as is typical for an earthquake of this size.

The City of Unalaska isn't rushing into a geothermal energy agreement with OC/Chena Power.

While the private company had asked local officials to sign a 30-year power deal by the end of the month, City Manager Erin Reinders said they won't make a decision until they have more information.

"I think some of these larger concepts — how is this going to work? — need to be discussed before we really dig in to the very specific details of a power purchase agreement," said Reinders.