Nicholas Laughlin and Georgia Popplewell are reporting “significant activity” from the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat — lava dome collapse and ash eruption:

“The first release, at 10.30 this morning, announced “increased activity” at the volcano, with the collapse of the lava dome at about 7.20 a.m. and a pyroclastic flow which reached the sea on the eastern side of the island, with “heavy ashing”. It’s expected that this could go on for several hours, and there is some threat of explosive activity and more pyroclastic flows. There is also some threat of tsunami activity triggered by these flows reaching the sea, and small tsunamis have apparently been reported already from Antigua and Guadeloupe (the nearest inhabited islands to Montserrat). The people of Montserrat have been advised to stay indoors and “remain vigilant”, but there is no immediate danger.

A subsequent release, at about midday, contains an advisory from the Chief Medical Officer that people with asthma and children under the age of five should be removed to the northern end of the island due to ash and “a level of gas” in the air.

Some of Montserrat’s telephone exchanges are currently down and power has been cut to some areas (the volcanic ash conducts electricity), which might account for so many of the websites being inaccessible.”

* This could have a major impact on the third ODI between WI and India, scheduled for nearby St Kitts.

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