By Admin. Updated 8:28 a.m., Thursday, March 25, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The head of the Seismic Research Center of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus, Professor Richard Robertson says current activities at the La Soufriere volcano should be taken as a warning.
On VC3’s Roundtable Talk aired on March 24, Robertson said, while responding to a question about preparedness:
“In a sense, St. Vincent, this time around has been fortunate in that this volcano started very quietly and for the last three months it’s been erupting quietly,” referring to the ongoing effusive eruption at La Soufriere.
“So, people talk about warning of an explosive eruption, the warning that you’re getting now is your warning,” he added.
“And just in case you didn’t know, the volcano now starts to give you events that are felt and you could actually feel that something is happening. So you know that you’re not only seeing the burnt vegetation, you’re not just seeing pictures from what’s going on in the dome, but now you’re feeling earthquakes. So, I don’t know people what other warning you should get that this volcano is erupting and it could do some nasty things,” Professor Robertson said.
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) stated in a release on March 24 that a swarm of low-frequency seismic events was recorded on March 23 on a scale that had not been recorded since 2021.
Additionally, a swarm of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes was reported on March 23, the largest one being magnitude 2.6, NEMO stated in the release.
Earthquakes have been recorded felt in northern and north-north-eastern communities of Fancy, Owia, and Sandy Bay.
On the Round Table Talk aired on March 24, Robertson who participated in the program via a video call, said the volcano has given us plenty warning and we need to be prepared.
Director of NEMO Michelle Forbes said, “this is the time now to get your house in order”.
“We have to be ready for any sudden change,” Forbes said. Forbes said she wants persons to be at a heightened stage of preparedness given what is happening now with the volcano.
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