Monday, 23rd December 2024

Kick 'em Jenny Alert: 40 tremors recorded after eruption

'No danger of tsunami' – Seismic Research Centre

Wednesday, 3rd May 2017

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (SRC) is monitoring increased activity at underwater volcano Kick ’em Jenny following eruptions over the past few days.

But they have stressed that there is no threat of tsunami or any danger.

“Recent measurements have indicated that the summit of Kick ’em Jenny is currently too deep beneath the surface of the sea for an eruption to likely trigger a tsunami,” said the SRC.

Local sources in Grenada and St Lucia have confirmed to WIC News that there is no reason to worry at this moment – despite reports of eruptions being felt in St Patrick’s, Grenada.

In its latest update, Grenada’s National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) said at least 43 “mostly low magnitudes volcanic earthquakes” – in the magnitude range of 1.5 to 2.3 – had occurred between that first tremor and 10.41am yesterday.

The Trinidad-based SRC said the first eruption at the region’s only submarine volcano – located about five miles north of Grenada – occurred on Saturday around 5.45pm,

A number of the events reached a magnitude of 3.0.

Yellow Alert

On Sunday, on of the SRC's stations on Grenada recorded a high amplitude signal lasting about 25 seconds.

The signal was also recorded on a station in Montserrat.

In a statement, the SRC said: “This signal follows an increase in the number of background events associated with the Kick ’em Jenny volcano."

The Kick 'em Jenny alert has been raised to yellow, which according to the SRC's website means: "Volcano is restless: seismicity and/or fumarolic activity are above the historical level or other unusual activity has been observed or can be expected without warning". As part of the warning, an exclusion zone of 1.5km from the summit of the volcano should be observed by non-essential ships – though as a precaution the marine community should observe a 5km exclusion zone.