Source UWI SRC – Experts at The UWI Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) advise that La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains dangerous despite pauses in explosive activity.
During a virtual press conference hosted on Wednesday, April 21, Rod Stewart, Volcano-Seismologist from the UWI-SRC/Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) emphasized, “although it is easy to identify the start of eruptions, conclusively saying when eruptions are over, often proves more difficult.”
The UWI-SRC and Vincentian authorities
Advice provided by the UWI–SRC enabled the successful evacuation of 13,000 residents from the designated ‘RED ZONE’ 24 hours prior to the first explosion of the volcano.
Thirty-two discrete explosions have been observed since the onset of explosive activity. To date, there has been no loss of life.
Ash from these explosions has been the primary hazard.
Explosive events have become less frequent over time, with the period between explosions increasing as the eruption progresses.
Professor Richard Robertson, UWI-SRC, Scientific Team Lead estimates that the explosivity seen during this current eruption, is greater than in 1979, and more comparable to the 1902 eruption.
The UWI-SRC Field Scientists based at the Belmont Observatory in Saint Vincent are part of larger team of seismic and engineering technicians,
Several international agencies and academic colleagues have also made valuable contributions to the current understanding of the eruption.
The UWI-SRC remains ready to serve the region despite a perennial challenge to secure resources.
