Montserrat Update 016

From: Global Volcanism Network 
Date: Tue, 31 Oct 95 06:28:04 EST
Subject: Montserrat: Volcano  DHA-13

                        MONTSERRAT-VOLCANIC ERUPTION
                      DHA -  INFORMATION REPORT NO. 13
                               30 OCTOBER 1995

  1.    THREE  MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST STEAM EXPLOSION OF THE  CHANCE'S PEAK
  VOLCANO, THE VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN MONTSERRAT CONTINUES, WITH LESS
  INTENSITY.  REGISTERING A FLUCTUATING BUT GENERAL MODEST NUMBER OF LOCAL
  EARTHQUAKES AND PERIODIC SMALL EXPLOSIONS OF ASH AND STEAM.

  2.     ON 21 AUGUST 1995 A LARGER EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE GENERATING A
  VERTICAL  COLUMN TO 2,500 METERS, PART OF WHICH THEN DESCENDED AS A
  COLD  ASH  AVALANCHE  UPON  THE  WESTERN  FLANKS  OF  THE  VOLCANO,
  INCLUDING  THE  CAPITAL  TOWN  PLYMOUTH  AND NEIGHBOURING VILLAGES,
  TRIGGERING  THE  EVACUATION  OF ITS 5,000 RESIDENTS TO THE NORTH OF
  MONTSERRAT.  THIS  SITUATION  LASTED  UNTIL THE THREAT OF HURRICANE
  LUIS  ON  5  AND 6  SEPTEMBER 1995, WHEN THE EVACUEES MOVED BACK TO
  THEIR HOMES ON THE LOWER SLOPES OF THE VOLCANO.

  3.      THE  LAST  SIGNIFICANT  EVENT  WAS  THE  ANNOUNCEMENT ON 25
  SEPTEMBER  1995  OF  THE NON EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF A NEW LAVA DOME AT
  THE  WESTERN  FOOT  OF  CASTLE  PEAK,  WHICH  ITSELF WAS A RECENTLY
  PRE-HISTORIC  DOME  NESTED  WITHIN  THE  HORSESHOE-SHAPED ENGLISH'S
  CRATER.

  4.      DESPITE  THIS  CHANGEABLE  SITUATION,  SCHOOLS AND BUSINESS
  REOPENED  AND MONTSERRAT IS BACK TO ITS NORMAL LIFE. AN INFORMATION
  CAMPAIGN, THROUGH THE LOCAL MEDIA IS BEING CARRIED OUT, IN ORDER TO
  ADEQUATELY  INFORM THE POPULATION, ON THE CURRENT SITUATION AND THE
  ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE AUTHORITIES.

  5.      THE CHIEF OF THE DISASTER MITIGATION BRANCH (UNDHA-GENEVA),
  VISITED  THE  ISLAND, FROM 3 TO 14 OCTOBER 1995, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
  REFINING SCIENTIFIC MONITORING AND HAZARD ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES, AS
  WELL  AS  ADVISING  THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES ON WAYS OF
  IMPROVING   AND   STREAMLINING   ALERT,   EVACUATION   AND   RELIEF
  COORDINATION PROCEDURES.

  6.      THIS WILL BE THE FINAL REPORT ON THIS EMERGENCY, UNLESS THE
  CURRENT  ERUPTION  BECOMES  MORE  VIOLENT  AND  LEADS TO NEW RELIEF
  ASSISTANCE NEEDS.

  TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234

  IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY:  TELEPHONE +41-22-917-2010

  DESK OFFICER:  CARLOS PEREIRA,DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917.13.83
  PRESS TO CONTACT:  MRS. MOULIN-ACEVEDO
  TEL: +41-22-917-28-56

  TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
  FAX: +41-22-917-0023
  ELECTRONIC MAIL: INTERNET DHAGVA AT UN.ORG
  DPR 310
                   = DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS +
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