Soufriere Hills Volcano erupts again

~~Adz:Right~~ BRADES, Montserrat – Montserrat’s volcano at Soufriere Hills exploded at about 9:35 pm on Tuesday (Dec. 2) resulting in pyroclastic flow from the western side of the lava dome.

According to the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), the explosion took place without warning and showed no precursory seismic activity. The volcano emitted large boulders and incandescent blocks up to a kilometer from the dome, scattering debris over the north-western side of Gages Mountain.

The report explained that “the pyroclastic flow was on the western flank of the volcano and travelled down Gages Valley and into Plymouth and appeared to have reached the sea”. It was also noted that many buildings capital were destroyed by the flow and were set alight for several hours. The capital was abandoned when the volcano first erupted in 1997 killing 19 people.

Tuesday’s explosion generated some 40,000-foot ash columns accompanied by lightning strikes. One scientist said the eruption had been expected since July and seemed to have “been triggered by a collapse”.

The approximate 4500 remaining inhabitants of the island were not evacuated following the eruption.

There have been no reports of ash fall, air-fall pumice or propelled objects in inhabited areas nor have there been any reported deaths or major injuries resulting from this latest eruption, the first in nearly six months.