Fear of a cataclysmic eruption from the super-volcano under Yellowstone National Park continues to increase among conspiracy theorists after scientists' announcement late last year that the "caldera" is 2.5 times larger than previously thought, and could therefore threaten the entire globe were it to erupt.
The newest conspiracy theory is that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and key members of the federal government are hiding data that proves an imminent eruption, and have been negotiating behind the scenes with several foreign governments to create a disaster plan,
The Epoch Times reports.
Millions of Americans could be relocated to Australia, Brazil, and Argentina, claims the South African news website responsible for the rumor. According to its report, South Africa was also approached by U.S. officials, but declined to shelter any significant influx of eruption refugees.
"South Africa will not be part of the plan, because there is a risk that millions of white Americans could be sent to South Africa in an emergency situation and that this would pose a risk to black national culture identity," Dr. Siph Matwetwe, spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, is alleged to have said.
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"We have our own challenges, even if there is enough housing and infrastructure available, it will destabilize the country and may even bring back apartheid."
The conspiracy theories have gotten so rampant that the USGS released a frequently asked questions (FAQ) article to separate the truth from the conspiracy,
Wired reports.
"Recent weeks have seen a flurry of news, real and imagined, about the Yellowstone volcanic system,"
the article begins.
The geologists and seismologists at the department freely acknowledge that earthquake activity has increased recently in the park, but say this is nothing to worry about, as Yellowstone regularly experiences thousands of small, imperceptible earthquakes year-round.
As Newsmax previously reported, the Yellowstone volcano is also not dependent on earthquake triggers for its eruptions.
Addressing reports that recent landslides are a sign of the coming eruption, the FAQ states, "Current rates of ground deformation are well within historical norms."
The FAQ also points to a "Rumor Control" YouTube video in which Park spokeman Al Nash addresses a number of the rumors, including the alleged evacuation of local animals, who he says are following normal migration patterns like clockwork, and are not "running" from any impeding eruption.
Despite or because of each new natural phenomenon and attempt to put it in context, the conspiracy theorists continue to allege a government cover up, some maybe for kicks, others because they genuinely think we're in for it.
In any case, evidence from the last eruption 600,000 years ago shows that it was so damaging to North America and the rest of the globe that there's probably nothing we can do to stop or avoid it.
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