Fortunately for the island, no new major explosions have occurred during the past 12 hours and the volcano has been a bit calmer, with „only“ venting of small to moderate ash.
However, the risk of new large explosions remains high. The University of the West Indies (UWI) monitoring the situation detected a change in seismicity: „The pattern of seismic activity changed again, with the end of the episodes of high-amplitude tremor 2-8 hours apart.“
From the latest update posted on Twitter:
„Three episodes of tremor have been recorded since 6am, two of them lower-amplitude and the third, at about 5pm, was high-amplitude.
„The episodes continue to coincide with periods of enhanced venting or explosive activity.
„Observations made indicate that pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) had descended several valleys on the southern and western flanks of the volcano and had reached the sea at Morne Ronde, Larikai and Trois Loupes Bay.
„Extensive damage to vegetation was noted in an area extending from Larikai Bay to Turner Bay on the west coast.
„No other areas along the coast had been affected by PDCs but villages located on the eastern flank of the volcano had been affected by heavy ashfall.
„Explosions and accompanying ashfall, of similar or larger magnitude, are likely to continue to occur over the next few days with the chance of PDCs occurring.
Link: Visit the International Volcanic Hazard Health Network for volcanic ash information resources: http://ivhhn.org/information10″