Monday, 23rd December 2024

Latest Update on SVG Volcano: All people evacuated from red zones

UWI Seismic Research reported that Volcano ash fall will be a pervasive hazard throughout St Vincent and is expected to reach neighbouring islands such as Barbados.

Saturday, 10th April 2021

 La Soufriere volcano continues to show explosive activities.
UWI Seismic Research reported that Volcano ash fall will be a pervasive hazard throughout St Vincent and is expected to reach neighbouring islands such as Barbados.

It stated that volcanic ash is not necessarily deadly but can lead to respiratory problems and impact vehicles and plane engines.

Heavy ash falls halted the evacuations process; however, NEMO reported at 3:00 am, people from all red and orange zone areas have been taken to safe zones.

[embed]https://twitter.com/uwiseismic/status/1380775337433440256[/embed]

Director of UWI Seismic Research Centre Dr Erouscilla Joseph stated that the La Soufriere volcano continues to show explosive activities.

[embed]https://twitter.com/uwiseismic/status/1380701973515747335[/embed]

"The activity continues to grow overnight; as of 7 pm, there have been three explosives." Director of UWI Seismic Research Centre Dr Erouscilla Joseph.

Recently surfaced videos on social media showed lightning and thunders as the volcano started to erupt Friday evening.

NEMO SVG stated that the La Soufriere Volcano erupted on the second Friday in April (Friday, April 13)in 1979. Four days shy of its anniversary, it has again erupted on the second Friday in April (9) in 2021.

[embed]https://twitter.com/WIC_News/status/1380774780442341378[/embed]

UWI Seismic Research has advised people not to panic and follow the guidelines of authorities. It has also advised people to stay indoors, wear face masks to protect themselves from the volcano ashes as it can lead to severe respiratory problems.

Countries in the OECS and CARICOM have agreed to accommodate evacuees from St Vincent and the Grenadines. Many thousands will be shifted to shelters in St Vincent, while around 8,000 people are expected to be accommodated elsewhere in other countries. Dominica, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana have lent their support to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Hotels, shelters and even private properties in the safe zones are being utilized to accommodate the public displaced from the red and orange zones. It is believed that the displacement will remain from four to five months as the volcanic activity is expected to increase with time