Activity at the Soufriere Hills volcano during the night has been at about the same relatively low level as during the previous 12 hours. The seismic records are still dominated by signals from Small- to moderate-sized rockfalls from the growing lava dome. The largest rockfalls occurred at 17:16 and 17:32 on 15 July 1996. A sprinkling of ash from the 17:32 event was noticed at Brodericks. A few small long-period and hybrid events were also recorded. Intermittent low- to moderate-amplitude broadband tremor was recorded by the Gages seismic station and this is most probably indicative of increased steam emission in the Crater.
The volcano continued to be obscured by clouds during the later part of yesterday and today morning.
Dome growth is continuing and therefore the threats posed by the Soufriere Hills Volcano continue at the same or a greater level as over the past several months. The Tar River and Long Ground areas to the east and the upper Fort Ghaut, Gages Village and Upper Amersham areas to the west are still extremely hazardous. People should not enter these areas under any circumstances because they put themselves and others at direct risk of very serious injury or death. People are urged to keep visits to the evacuated zone to a minimum.