• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

Significant Volcanic Eruption Imminent in Caribbean ; Evacuations Ordered

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - April 8, 2021

Webcams now show molten rock on the surface of the volcano, a sign that an explosive eruption could be imminent. Image: UWI Seismic Research Centre



It appears a significant volcanic eruption is imminent in the Caribbean, with the area on high alert and officials evacuating communities away from a zone of extreme danger. The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), Ministry of National Security, for St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the West Indies reports that steaming and smoking at the La Soufriere Volcano has dramatically increased in recent hours and an explosive eruption can occur within hours or less.

At noon today, NEMO raised an alert level to orange but has since raised it further to RED, indicating extreme danger at the La Soufriere Volcano.

La Soufriere is located in the Caribbean. Image: Google
La Soufriere is located in the Caribbean. Image: Google

La Soufriere is the only active volcano on the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. The volcano rises 3,864 feet above sea level. This volcano’s explosive past is the reason for today’s extreme concern: there have been 5 explosive eruptions here since records were taken: 1718, 1812, 1814, 1902/1903, and 1949. Several effusive eruptions have also occurred at La Soufriere. In 1979, an effusive phase followed the initial explosive phase of the eruption. In 1971/1972, an effusive eruption created a lava dome that existed until the 1979 eruption.

A lava dome through effusive eruption began last December. Visual observations in late December confirmed that high temperatures detected by satellites used to track fires were in fact caused by magma reaching the surface. Today, with steam and smoke rising from the volcano at increasing volumes, scientists believe an eruption could be imminent; it is too soon to tell if this eruption will be catastrophically explosive.




However, geologists studying data from this volcano believe an explosion is coming. Monitoring stations had reported long earthquakes, which suggested that fresh magma was trying to reach the surface, and indicated that the volcano was moving to “an explosive stage” according to reports in the St. Vincent online newspaper News 784.

With the situation escalating, Vincentian Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has issued an evacuation order for all communities in a red zone area, which consists of the northern third of the island. The safe areas outside of the red zone are from North Union to Kingstown on the Windward side of the island, Barrouallie to Kingstown on the Leeward side and the Grenadine Islands.  The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) has now been fully activated on the island to deal with this impending disaster.



Webcams fixed on the La Soufriere Volcano show steam and smoke volumes increasing at the volcano, a sign of an imminent eruption. Image: UWI Seismic Research Centre
Webcams fixed on the La Soufriere Volcano show steam and smoke volumes increasing at the volcano, a sign of an imminent eruption. This was taken just hours before molten rock became visible on the surface today.  Image: UWI Seismic Research Centre

To aid in the evacuation of the island, various vessels are racing to the coast to get as many people as possible off.  The Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas is currently enroute to rescue people in harm’s way on the island. Many other fishing, commercial, and cruise ships are in the area and assisting.

La Soufriere’s most devastating eruption occurred in 1902; that explosive eruption claimed approximately 1,600 lives. During the last eruption in 1979, the local population was successfully evacuated and no one died.

Scientists are also tracking other seismic threats: earthquakes and tsunami are also possible risks from a significant volcanic eruption.

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Severe Weather Threat Returns to Mississippi Valley on Friday
  • Deadline for SBA Aid for Kauai Drought Coming Soon
  • Another Atmospheric River Event Slams into West Coast; More Epic Rain, Snow Expected
  • Anniversary of 1964 Great Alaskan “Good Friday” Earthquake and Tsunami
  • Tornado Watches, Warnings Issued as Severe Weather Impacts Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, & Gerogia
  • After Violent Night, Storms Shift to Ohio and Pennsylvania
  • Preliminary NTSB Report Shows Something other than Turbulence Killed Passenger on New England Flight
  • SEVERE Geomagnetic Storm Alert Issued; Massive Aurora On Display in North America
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022