Volcanic activity has continued at about the same level over the last 24 hours. The MVO seismographs recorded 20 rockfall signals and 3 volcano-tectonic earthquakes in the period. There were three episodes of increased tremor associated with ash venting, the largest of which occurred at about 14:05 hrs local time this afternoon.
Three inspection flights over the volcano were made today in improved weather conditions. During the morning flights, the existence of a vent in the central cleft through the dome above Tar River was confirmed, which was producing continuous moderate quantities of steam. The early afternoon ash venting, which produced a cloud rising to more than 15,000 ft altitude, was observed from Salem, and inspected later from the helicopter. Steam and ash production in this episode continued as a series of pulses for more than twenty minutes, and appeared to emanate from the vicinity of the vent mentioned above. The helicopter inspection indicated there were signs of some fresh ash deposits around the vent and on the outer Galway's face of the dome, but no obvious signs of dome collapse or pyroclastic flows were seen.
Residents of Montserrat are advised to keep listening to ZJB Radio Montserrat for information relating to any further developments in the state of the volcano.