The level of activity at the Soufriere Hills volcano has remained low over the last 24 hours.
The seismic network measured just a few hybrid earthquakes and one long period event plus about 100 rockfall & pyroclastic flow signals. The busiest time being from about 7 pm to midnight last night. Only a few of these events generated any ash clouds and there was no reported ash falls at all yesterday (Thursday).
Some COSPEC measurements were taken yesterday along the road from Corkhill to Kinsale to see the amount of sulphur dioxide gas in the atmosphere. Earlier in the week results showed about 600 tonnes per day and yesterday's results when processed will be compared to these.
Poor visibility yesterday and again today (Friday) is preventing views of the dome and hampering field work. However, scientists feel that there is continued dome growth despite the low level of activity and this is putting the volcano into a potentially perilous state.
The alert level is ORANGE and because of the dangers from pyroclastic flows everyone is urged to stay clear of Zones A and B and only enter Zone C during daylight hours with a rapid means of exit.
Government Information Service