Is Saba experiencing any problems related to the Montserrat volcano?
While the situation at the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat has had a devastating impact on that once beautiful island and its people, its effects on Saba have been minimal and are no cause for concern since we are some 90 miles away. During the fall of 1997, increased volcanic activity on Montserrat did result in some light ash falling on Saba but for us it was only a minor inconvenience compared to the fate of those on Montserrat; and here it was quickly washed away with the next rain. At that same time, we were able to clearly observe the activity from Saba as the ash clouds rose to between 30,000 and 40,000 feet. Several weeks later we even encountered some small bits of lava floating in the waters surrounding Saba which were quickly scooped up by locals and our guests as souvenirs. Just the same, the Montserrat situation has resulted in an increased awareness on Saba since we are situated along the same volcanic chain and Saba itself is a long dormant volcano. Studies and mon
