Battered by La Soufrière eruptions and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, St Vincent is again being tested with flash flooding as heavy rains continue to overwhelm the Caribbean island on Thursday (April 29).

The Government Meteorological Service, in a 6:00 am forecast, warned that similar to Wednesday afternoon, overcast conditions are likely to persist over much of St Vincent and the Grenadines, resulting in occasional thunderstorms and periods of intermittent showers.

Local media have reported flooding as far south as the capital Kingstown, with residents recording landslides in Rockies and other communities.

According to a bulletin from the Trinidad and Tobago Weather Center, St Vincent has received more than 100 mm of rain in the last six hours.

The Agency for Public Information (API), in its advisory, discouraged unnecessary travel as persistent rain and ash build-up on Vincentian roads and the drainage system is giving way to dangerous flash flooding conditions.

The API, urging extreme caution, said unpredictable landslides have left some areas all but impassable.

“Pedestrians and motorists are advised, that where possible, to stay off the roads today,” the agency said.

The API added that in the event being on the roads is unavoidable, it has a growing list of areas where caution should be exercised, including:

• Ratho Mill next to JAX Wall
• Sally Spring
• Cane Hill in front of Vinlee
• C K Greaves Supermarket in Arnos Vale
• Rabbaca Bridge (which threatens to overflow)
• Lady Jane Bridge (almost impassable)
• KFC in Kingstown

The API further noted that an electrical hazard exists in Edinboro, just outside the capital, following a felled utility pole.

For its part, the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) warned that as heavy rain mixes with volcanic debris from La Soufrière, it will create lahars—dangerous ‘rivers’ of mud.

The SRC explained that within the red and orange designated hazard zones, lahars, helped along with the large volcanic deposits of rock and ash, are triggering a deep rumbling sound.

“The rainfall overnight and into this morning has generated lahars (mudflows) in the red and orange zones. Lahars are fast-moving, dense mixture of rocks, ash and vegetation and water originating from a volcano,” the SRC advised.

“It has the consistency of wet concrete and can cause severe damage to rivers and valleys around the volcano. Lahars carry large amounts of volcanic material and may generate a rumbling sound,” the unit added.

Scientists monitoring La Soufrière are also warning residents to stay away from rivers and streams as well as seek higher ground in area prone to flash flooding as conditions could worsen with little notice.

“Persons should stay away from streams, rivers and areas prone to flooding. Do not go into these areas unless authorities advise it is safe to do so. We continue to monitor and update accordingly,” the UWI-SRC noted.