Science

Yellowstone volcano: How Texas city was evacuated after ‘end of the world’ warning


The Yellowstone caldera gets its chilling label as a supervolcano due to its potential to inflict devastation on a global level. Hidden beneath the US states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the volcano is constantly monitored by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for any signs an eruption is on the way. Scientist-in-Charge Mike Poland recently revealed that there had been more than 135 earthquakes in the region in the last month, including a swarm of 78 located tremors.

While these incidents are nowhere near the levels needed to trigger an eruption, Dr Poland reminded viewers of the 1959 Hebgen lake earthquake that occurred on August 17, stating: “I think this anniversary is a good reminder to us that earthquake hazards in the Yellowstone region are pretty significant.”

The 7.5 magnitude quake caused massive damage, including 28 fatalities and a considerable £9million in repairs to highways and timbers.

Acclaimed historian Larry Morris detailed the anxiety the incident caused, even to states such as Texas.

He said: “There was a man camped out and after the quake he ran out and all he could see was an empty lake bed and he concluded that the dam had burst.

“Well he climbed in his car and somehow made it to West Yellowstone, the roads were all totally demolished and he found a radio operator in West.

‘He told that the dam had collapsed and the radio operator started sounding the word.

“Somebody in Arizona picked it up, it went to Utah, Idaho, and then it came back to Virginia city.”

Mr Norris revealed how the message travelled more than 1,000 miles in a matter of seconds.

He added: “When they heard that the dam had burst, the sheriff and also a man here in Helena, by the name of Hugh Potter, decided that the town of Ennis should be evacuated.

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He continued: “One man said: ‘I heard a terrible rumble and looked up, I saw the whole mountain crumbling.

“‘It was awful, I saw a lot of fighting during World War 2, but I never heard such a roar.’

“Another one said: ‘The roar sounded like the end of the world.’

“Many of them compared it to the sound of a freight train or a whole bunch of freight trains coming right at them.”

After only three weeks the damned river created a lake more than 170 feet deep.

The lake the quake created now covers an area five miles long and a third of a mile wide. 

Today, tourists to the area can stop by the Earthquake Lake Visitor Centre, which is situated 27 miles north of West Yellowstone to re-live the horrors from more than half a century ago.



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