Ash and dust again rise over St Vincent as La Soufrière explodes on 1979 anniversary
Gavin Riley / Our Today
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La Soufrière has again exploded, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre (SRC) is confirming, sending another plume of dust and ash miles into the sky on Tuesday (April 13).
It is the fifth major explosion of the Vincentian volcano in as many days and marks the 42nd anniversary of the 1979 eruption.
According to a statement from the SRC, the explosion was observed at 6:30 am local time.
At a virtual press briefing, Professor Richard Robertson said based on its activity, there are signs that the volcano is losing explosive energy incrementally.
“The way in which it exploded, gave us some confidence that the [projection] models we have are still correct because the explosion we had this morning wasn’t as energetic as [we’ve] had in the beginning,” he explained.
According to Professor Robertson, in the first couple days of eruption, there was a clear succession of events.
Acknowledging this morning’s explosion, however, he continued that what the SRC team is seeing now are discrete events. Based on its projections, the morning eruption won’t produce a lot of ash and could signal that La Soufrière is trying to grow a dome.
“We expect, if it goes along the same pattern, that an indication that it is trying to grow a dome. Once [the magma] starts slowing down, once it stops moving fast we expect the top part of the magma to solidify and begin to dry,” he added.
Professor Robertson warned, however, that despite the lull in activity La Soufrière, there is no room for complacency as the dangerous situation could change drastically.
As the alert level remains very high, he urged persons to stay away from the red zone.
Marine interests in the north of St Vincent must also be mindful as pyroclastic flows could pose a threat close to shore.
After months of effusive (oozing) activity, La Soufrière first roared into its explosive phase on Friday, April 9. The volcano triggered mass evacuations of some 20,000 Vincentians living in and near the red disaster zone.
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