ALASKA PENINSULA - The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the Pavlof Volcano has started to erupt. The volcano is on the southwestern end of the Alaska Peninsula, nearly 600-miles southwest of Anchorage.

Communities near the volcano, like Cold Bay, could see some ash falling. A ship that passed the area spotted lava on the mountain side, as well as an ash plume.

The observatory says that there's been a spike in the number of earthquakes around the mountain as well.

The volcano last erupted in September of 1996 and lasted several months. In 1986 an eruption there sent ash as high as 49-thousand feet.

Reported by: ABC Alaska News