Recent volcanic activity at
Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

BRADES, Montserrat: The onset of explosive activity from Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano has caused the country’s Governor to declare a mandatory evacuation for affected communities and extend the exclusion zone to include the new areas that are now unsafe to enter. 

On 8 January 2007, Montserrat’s Governor Deborah Barnes Jones announced on local media stations that some residents living on the flanks of Belham Valley would be faced with mandatory evacuation.  This mandatory evacuation for those affected residents took effect 6pm the same evening. 

Governor Barnes Jones added that the police force would be deployed to ensure that this mandatory evacuation is enforced, emphasising that any violators could face a fine or imprisonment.

People living in Salem’s residential communities and as far north as Davy Hill woke up Monday morning to the audible explosions of the country’s volcano erupting.

According to the Montserrat Governor’s Office, “The Governor signed on 8 January, the legal instrument enlarging the unsafe zone from 6pm.  This action was taken on the basis of scientific advice and in response to an escalation of risk to certain areas from the Soufriere Hills volcano.”  The Emergency Powers (Unsafe Areas) Order 2007 extending the Exclusion Zone was signed at 4.30 p.m. on 8 January 2007

The Governor’s Office reports that the current volcanic alert level is 4.  Activity ramped up early Monday morning with very strong venting and gases.  Currently, seismic signals are now at background levels.

Residents in the Salem area witnessed pyroclastic flows from the dome enter Gages Valley and Tyers Ghaut.  These guts are in the unsafe zone.

A significant development of this explosive activity is that some of the pyroclastic flow material entered the Belham Valley and caused burning of the vegetation.  As a result, Belham Valley has now been added to the unsafe zone.

Further, material from Belham Valley flows reached Cork Hill and extended some 5kms in total.

This eruptive activity generated an ash cloud up to approximately 30,000 feet.  Hence, there has been light to medium ashing in the Salem area.

Pre-warned to evacuate, residents living on the flanks of the Belham Valley were advised by siren to evacuate immediately.

Official reports indicate that there was no damage to property or injuries.

In spite of this explosive activity, the Souffriere Hills’ tremendous dome did not collapse.  It is estimated that five million cubic meters have been lost.  This means that there is still about 200 million cubic meters of material still up there in the shape of a dome.

For those 30 families as well as businesses extracting construction materials from the area and farmers pasturing livestock currently uprooted and displaced, the real threat to their homes and livelihood is far from over.  Residents and workers may not enter the unsafe areas.  Therefore, physical barriers have been erected.

The Royal Montserrat Police Force have put in place an entry system for home owners in the unsafe zone to allow them restricted temporary access when volcanic activity permits.

As is to be expected, the north of the island is unaffected. All islanders and visitors are safe, and the airport remains open.

Ironically, Montserrat closed its festival season for 2006 without incident, and simultaneously welcomed 2007 with explosive volcanic uncertainty that resulted in the forced movement of some residents living on the flanks of the Belham Valley that is now being fed by the Soufriere Hills volcano.