MVO reported that during 15-22 May activity from the Soufrière Hills lava dome had increased slightly, but remained overall at a low level. Seismic activity increased slightly; tectonic earthquakes were noted on 16, 18, 20, and 21 May at depths less than 3 km beneath the lava dome. Lahars traveled down multiple river valleys on 18 May. Two possible explosions were detected on 21 May. The second and larger signal was followed by an ash plume that was seen drifting to the W over Gages Mountain. During 21-22 May, a strong smell of sulfur dioxide was noted from Salem (6 km NW) to Woodlands (1 km N of Salem).The Hazard Level remained at 3.

Geological Summary. The complex, dominantly andesitic Soufrière Hills volcano occupies the southern half of the island of Montserrat. The summit area consists primarily of a series of lava domes emplaced along an ESE-trending zone. The volcano is flanked by Pleistocene complexes to the north and south. English's Crater, a 1-km-wide crater breached widely to the east by edifice collapse, was formed about 2000 years ago as a result of the youngest of several collapse events producing submarine debris-avalanche deposits. Block-and-ash flow and surge deposits associated with dome growth predominate in flank deposits, including those from an eruption that likely preceded the 1632 CE settlement of the island, allowing cultivation on recently devegetated land to near the summit. Non-eruptive seismic swarms occurred at 30-year intervals in the 20th century, but no historical eruptions were recorded until 1995. Long-term small-to-moderate ash eruptions beginning in that year were later accompanied by lava-dome growth and pyroclastic flows that forced evacuation of the southern half of the island and ultimately destroyed the capital city of Plymouth, causing major social and economic disruption.

Source: Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO)