Over 2,000 people still in volcano shelters – NEMO

By Admin. Updated 9:15 p.m., Tuesday, July 6, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

More than 2,000 people are still residing in State-run shelters opened for people displaced by the La Soufrière volcanic eruptions.

In its July 6 update, the National Emergency Management Organization – NEMO revealed that some 2,006 persons are still in volcano shelters.

In the July 6 meeting of Parliament, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said that more than 1,000 people are also in private shelters.

The La Soufrière volcano began erupting explosively on April 9, 2021, with the last major explosion occurring on April 22, 2021.

The government announced that the Alert Level was dropped from Red to Orange on May 6, 2021, after the advice of scientists monitoring the volcano.

The Alert Level for La Soufrière remains at Orange and people no clearance has been given to people in the Red Zone north of the Rabbaca Dry River on the eastern side of mainland St. Vincent to reserve in those areas.

Two Orange Zone communities have also been restricted from resettling at this time, they are Chateaubelair and Fitz-Hughes on the western (leeward) side of mainland St. Vincent.

According to the National Emergency Management Organization – NEMO, “Orange Level means Highly elevated level of seismicity or fumarolic activity or both. Eruptions may occur with less than 24 hours’ notice. Monitoring system continuously manned.”

Thermal anomalies, persistent steaming from the crater floor, and low-frequency seismic events have been occurring at the volcano since explosive eruptive activity stopped.

The 2,000 people in State-run Volcano Emergency Shelters are spread out across 48 shelters.

Some 39 of these Volcano Emergency Shelters have been closed as some people have back into some Orange Zone communities, while others have moved into alternative private accommodation.

One hurricane shelter is open and it is housing nine (9) individuals, NEMO says.

These are individuals who took refuge in the shelter due to the passage of hurricane Elsa on July 2.