Montserrat Volcano Observatory | Caribbean island of Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano shoots plume of ash two or more miles into sky

Activity Update 10:00am 5th October 2009

Activity on the volcano has increased overnight. Starting at around 9:00 pm local time (on 4th October) there was a short swarm of VT earthquakes. This was then followed at around 10:00 pm by a period of tremor associated with vigorous ash venting which generated considerable ash plumes that drifted west north west across the island and out to sea. Only a very light dusting of ash fell in Old Towne and Olveston as the plumes moved to the south of the inhabited areas.

The seismic signals indicate that there was no explosive activity or pyroclastic flows associated with these events. The ash venting ceased at around 12:00am. Two rockfall signals followed the vigorous ash venting. As of 6:00 am and continuing at time of writing there is intermittent ash venting occurring sending occasional plumes of ash west north west across the island and out to sea, but no further significant seismicity.

Further ash plumes are likely to result from these venting pulses and ashfall could occur in inhabited areas such as Old Towne, Salem and Olveston depending on the wind direction.

This activity demonstrates that activity can increase at anytime without any real warning.

The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) continues to monitor the situation closely.

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