Earthquake swarm at Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat

The swarm of earthquakes at Soufriere Hills Volcano began at 10:20 UTC (14:20 UTC) on December 19 and lasted for approximately 90 minutes, triggering temporary restrictions in hazard areas.

The earthquakes occurred at a depth of 2 to 3 kilometers (1.2 to 1.9 mi) beneath the volcano's dome. No ash venting or changes in fumarole activity were observed even though the swarm had a greater number of events.

Seismic activity during the swarm peaked with two earthquakes of magnitude 3.3, a level capable of causing noticeable earthquakes in nearby areas. About 3,000 people live in a 5 km (3 mi) radius, 9,400 in a 10 km (6.2 mi) radius, and 448,900 in a 100 km (62 mi) radius.

“This swarm was probably the most intense since the shutdown began on February 11, 2010,” the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) said.

To ensure public safety, MVO has implemented temporary restrictions in Zone V, a designated danger zone near the volcano. Seismic activity returned to normal levels by 12:40 UTC (16:40 UTC) and access to the restricted area was restored after the MVO confirmed safety.

The sequence of VT earthquakes surpassed a similar event on March 23, 2012, which included 54 VT earthquakes and an ash vent. This event lasted approximately 3 hours, with the strongest earthquake reaching M3.6.

Despite differences in intensity and associated phenomena, both events showed similar seismic depths and characteristics.

Soufriere Hills Volcano is a complex andesitic stratovolcano with a summit elevation of 915 meters (3,002 feet). The summit area includes lava domes formed along an east-southeast trending zone. The volcano has a history of major eruptions and periods of increased seismic activity.

Major eruptions include long-duration events from July 18, 1995 to February 5, 2013, which caused widespread lava flows, ash, and lava dome growth. The explosions led to the evacuation of the southern half of the island and the destruction of the capital, Plymouth.

The geological structure also includes English Crater, a 1 km (0.62 mi) wide formation created by the collapse of an edifice about 2,000 years ago. This event produced avalanches of submarine debris and its deposits can still be observed on the sides of the volcano.

References:

1 MVO Activity Report – MVO – December 19, 2024

2 Soufriere Hills – GVP – Accessed 21 December 2024

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Rishika holds a Master's degree in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she received a Gold Medal, and an MCA from Mysore University, Karnataka, India. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a junior writer to Europe Monitor on the world politics website and as an assistant editor for The World This Week. Her works have also been published in The Hindu, demonstrating her expertise in global affairs. Rishika has also received the District Level Women Empowerment Award in Haryana, India, in 2022.

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