NEMO says La Soufriere is not erupting!

The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) has issued an assurance to citizens and residents of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), that there is no cause for alarm regarding La Soufriere Volcano. In a release, the organisation noted that recent images and reports of visible steaming from the crater have raised concerns among the public, as well as complaints of the smell of sulfur “but residents are asked not to panic as  the volcano is NOT erupting”.

NEMO said in a social media release that the steaming is a natural result of extremely hot rocks inside the crater coming into contact with water. It said this interaction is a normal process following volcanic eruptions and may continue for years, if not decades, as the rocks gradually cool. The Soufriere Monitoring Unit (SMU) team continues its routine observations, ensuring that the volcano is being closely monitored.

Director of NEMO, Michelle Forbes said, “There is no unusual seismic activity at the volcano, and our data shows that everything is stable. The steaming is part of a long-term process, and the public should not be alarmed by these visuals”.

NEMO has also assured that it continues to maintain active monitoring of La Soufriere through its seismic stations and other equipment, and that it remains vigilant and prepared to provide timely updates to the public as necessary. (API)