Police restricting Red, Orange Zone access due to Lahar threat

By Admin. Updated 1:06 p.m., Tuesday, April 27, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Police are restricting access into the Red and Orange volcanic hazard zones due to the threat of lahars.

Lahars comprise a dense mixture of ash and water. These usually occur during heavy rain which creates mudflow that destroys everything in its path as it rises down the volcano’s slopes faster than a river, according to the National Emergency Management Organization – NEMO.

NEMO says that according to information from scientists at the Belmont Observatory, lahar flows occurred in the Red and Orange zone areas from, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

The situation is being compounded by heavy rainfall.

NEMO says that according to the forecast from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services, occasional showers are expected to continue during the course of the day and from late Wednesday into the end of the week.

People are being asked to be on the alert due to rain-soaked ash and poor visibility, and to stay out of the Red and Orange zones.