Friday, September 29, 2006

by Karen ‘Lioness’ Allen
Caribbean Net News Montserrat Correspondent
Email: karen@caribbeannetnews.com

BRADES, Montserrat: For Montserrat, the month of September started with great trepidation for the authorities and public who were concerned about new volcanic activity and the associated risks. By the month’s end, this concern abated as volcanic activity began to regulate somewhat.

The explosive activity that generated the greatest concern occurred on Sunday, 10 September 2006. A newly opened vent, on the western side of the crater on the rim of the Gages Wall, had been continuously venting vigorous ash.

During that day, the Government informed the public that scientists had advised them of a possible worst-case scenario, where the Gages Wall may collapse causing pyroclastic flows to travel down the Gages Valley into Plymouth. These pyroclastic flows and surges could also travel down Tyre’s Ghaut into Belham.

As a result, authorities advised people living on the flanks of the Belham Valley to start thinking about moving further north.

By the following Tuesday, there was no evidence of any of the explosive activity that had generated the greatest concern, although overall activity remained elevated.

On the 22nd September, the Emergency Policy Group (EPG) met to assess the recent activities at the Soufriére Hills Volcano.

According to a Government House Press Statement, the Montserrat Volcano Observatory’s (MVO) Director, Dr Sue Loughlin, reported that during the past four to five days there has been a drop in activity, which prompted the lowering of the alert level from level four to level three.

Dr Loughlin also reported that the estimated volume of the dome is now 80-million cubic meters. The Director went on to say that the vent in the Gages Wall is still a cause for concern because it is still active.

During the meeting, the EPG considered and granted permission to mining operators who were not allowed to continue commercial activities during the heightened activity to resume mining activities in the Belham Valley.

The Government House says, “The restrictions on activities in Plymouth remain in force until a Damage Assessment has been completed and the EPG has had an opportunity to review the latest Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) Report.”

The EPG meeting also agreed that St. George’s Hill would remain closed, pending further assessment, given its close proximity to the new vent in the Gages Wall.

By September’s end, volcanic activity is at level three, with no present evidence of the volcano resuming the concerning explosive activity at the vent in the Gages Wall and, for the time being, relinquishes residents living on the flanks of Belham Valley from thoughts of imminent evacuation north.

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