“Don’t let down your guard,” – La Soufriere still dangerous – Scientist

By Demion McTair. Updated 9:31 a.m., Tuesday, April 13, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The ash plume from an eruption of La Soufriere on April 13, 2021, was seen from St. Lucia. Photo: STV Online.

Kingstown, St. Vincent: Scientists are theorizing that the La Soufriere volcano is currently in a period of discrete events such as pyroclastic flows.

Speaking Tuesday on Radio, lead scientist monitoring the volcano, Professor Richard Robertson said “less ash and more discrete events such as pyroclastic flows” are being produced in this period.

He said the eruptions we are having now are more likely to produce pyroclastic flows than the ones before.

He said that while the volcano might appear quieter, it is still very dangerous.

“Don’t let down your guard,” he said Tuesday morning.

The volcano erupted on Tuesday morning, 42 years after the April 13, 1979 eruption.

Tuesday’s eruption, however, had less energy release than the eruptions before, which experts think could be an indication that the volcano is losing some energy during this period.

The professor said that the volcano is giving an indication that it is trying to build a dome but that pressure is still being released which could remove dome building efforts.

He said that while this period may appear quieter, there could be other periods of explosive activity.

He said eruptive activities can go on for days and weeks.

The La Soufriere volcano began erupting explosively on April 9, 2021, after more than three months of effusive eruptions which began on December 27, 2020.

The explosive eruptions of 2021 have so far produced dangerous pyroclastic flows and thick ashfall that have affected St. Vincent and the Grenadines and neighboring territories.

So far, there have been no reports of deaths, but damage to property in the Red Zone has been extensive.

Mudflows and heavy ashfall have devastated some communities in the Red Zone.

The Government is to announce a Marine Buffer Zone near the flanks of the volcano where pyroclastic flows reached the sea in three different areas on the west.

The buffer zone will be to protect marine operators from going too near to areas where deadly pyroclastic flows from the volcano can reach the sea.