Montserrat Volcano Threatens to Collapse

October 16, 2002

SALEM, Montserrat (Reuters) -- The peak of the volcano which dominates the Caribbean island of Montserrat is rising every day as burning rock and ash pile up, making an eruption almost inevitable, officials said.

"If the dome grows as it is, something has to give one way or another," said Dr. Peter Dunkley, director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. "It will be a messy situation when it happens."

After nearly four centuries of dormancy, the Soufriere Hills volcano roared back to life in 1995, killing 19 people and burying the south of the British territory, including the capital Plymouth.

Many islanders fled to Britain, the United States and other islands, reducing the population from 11,000 to 4,000.

Volcano Calms, But Dome Grows

In the past few years, the volcano has calmed, but the dome continues to grow and collapse. A collapsing dome sends rivers of superheated rock, ash and gases down the mountain's flanks.

Since March 2002, the dome has grown at an average rate of 340,000 tons per day and is higher than ever.

"Currently it's huge," government spokesman Richard Aspin said. "It's 3,500 feet above sea level, towering above the highest mountain in Montserrat. It's never reached this size before collapsing."

Last week, the government ordered the evacuation of people living in areas at risk. About 200 people have moved since last week. About 80 went into shelters and the rest found other places to live. Eight people refused to move.

In the past, the volcano had been flowing toward the east and south sides, where no one lives.

"It is buttressed by the older part of the dome and the population has been shielded," Aspin said. "Now, it is very, very large and above the shielded topography."

The volcano has rendered about half of the island uninhabitable and destroyed Plymouth, the airport, and most of the south end of the island. These have been designated the "unsafe zones," which change periodically depending on the way the rock flows are moving.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/10/16/caribbean.volcano.reut/index.html