Largest Event since 2006
Posted by
JAC on 2/14/2010, 12:27 pm
The dome collapse that took place at Soufrière Hills on 11 February 2010 'was undoubtedly the largest event to have occurred at Soufrière Hills volcano since May 2006,* reports the Montserrat Volcano Observatory in its latest update.
The pyroclastic flows that ran north and north-east from the volcano reached 300-400 metres out to sea, and the village of Harris, which is situated to the north of the volcano, was 'extensively impacted by pyroclastic flows', with many buildings 'razed to their foundations'.
Extensive ashfall was produced by this event: 'Ashfall has occurred across the south-eastern Caribbean with extensive fallout occurring in Guadeloupe whereas Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia and Barbados received a light dusting'. The volcano is now quiet: MVO reports that seismicity is currently low, restricted to signals produced by rockfalls within the scar left by the dome collapse.
The plume from this event reached more than 15 km altitude: Washington VAAC confirmed ash at FL500 (50,000 feet/15,240 metres).
Flights between Dominica, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and St Maarten were disrupted on 12/13 February, although some have since resumed.
In Guadeloupe schools were closed and Pointe-à-Pitre airport was shut down because of ashfall on 11 February, but re-opened late on 13 February; the damage Soufrière Hills may be doing to Guadeloupe's tourist-dependent economy is causing some alarm in the territory.
Heavy ashfall in Dominica has caused public health concerns, although the island's health minister has sought to strike a reassuring note: 'This is not a panic situation.
If you don't have a mask, you are not going to die'.
A dramatic video of the event, with commentary from MVO director Paul Cole, can be seen at YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeOaErI9r30
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In this thread:
Montserrat volcano shoots ash 9 miles into sky -
JAC,
2/12/2010, 7:18 am- Floater - JAC, 2/17/2010, 7:18 am
- Largest Event since 2006 - JAC, 2/14/2010, 12:27 pm
- Significant eruption from the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat - JAC, 2/14/2010, 12:03 pm
- Satellite Views of Eruption - JAC, 2/12/2010, 7:22 am
- Partial dome collapse 11 Feb 2010 - JAC, 2/12/2010, 7:20 am
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