The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) Monday sought to reassure citizens that the strong smell of “sulfur” in the air, does not signify any change or increase in volcanic activity at the Soufrière Hills volcano.
The Soufrière Hills are an active, complex stratovolcano with many lava domes forming its summit.
The Soufrière Hills volcano became active in 1995 and has continued to erupt ever since. Its eruptions have rendered more than half of Montserrat uninhabitable, destroying the capital city, Plymouth, and causing widespread evacuations
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, the MVO said that it is aware that people here “have noticed a strong smell of ‘sulfur’ in the air.
“The odor is a result of the current unusual wind direction, which is blowing volcanic gases to the north. It’s essential to understand that volcanic gases are constantly released, and we only notice the smell when the wind carries them in our direction,” the MVO said, adding “This occurrence does not signify any change or increase in volcanic activity”.
Source-CMC
