Partial Dome collapse at Soufrière Hills, Montserrat (2010)
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Partial Dome collapse at Soufrière Hills, Montserrat (2010)

by Jean-Guillaume Feignon

Eight years ago, on the 11th February 2010. The Soufrière Hills volcano (eruption started in 1995) lava dome partially collapsed, generating pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and co-PDC plume that rised to 15 km. This view is from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) terrace, only 5 kilometers away from the volcano. I had the chance to be there at the right place and right time to see this incredible powerful phenomenon. The PDCs left a several meters deposit that burried the old Bramble abandonned airport on the East coast of Montserrat. Fortunately, as the area is complety evacuated, nobody was killed or injured during this event. Since then, the volcano is quiet.