La Soufrière, the highest point in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is one of the most active volcanoes on earth, with five explosive eruptions dating back to 1718. Despite not erupting since 1979, it is considered an active volcano that is coming out of a quiet period. Scientists and local officials increased monitoring of the volcano after it showed signs of entering a new active period in December 2020. A new lava dome progressively grew at the top of La Soufrière as an effusive eruption– a slow and steady magma flow down the slope.
Explosive eruption of La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent on April 9, 2021. It was a culmination of the seismic activity that began on April 8. (Photo Credit: UWI Seismic Research Centre)
Local officials began to reach out to people in the volcano’s immediate area – the red zone – to update and review their plans in case of evacuation. Gas, ash and steam emissions began to increase in February 2021, with a marked increase in the days leading up to April 8, 2021. On that day, officials ordered an evacuation of the red zone and issued a 'red alert' that an explosive eruption was imminent. Cruise ships, which were empty and in so-called “warm status” because of COVID, were immediately deployed to help evacuate people from the island.
The first explosive eruption began at 8:41 a.m. local time on April 9, sending ash 32,000 feet into the air and east across the Atlantic Ocean. Later that day, two more explosive eruptions happened; the second was captured on multiple spectrums by a U.S. weather satellite. A fourth and fifth explosive eruption occurred on April 11 and April 12, respectively. Scientists are expecting eruptions to continue for at least several days and possibly for months.
After two weeks of relative quiet since the last large explosive eruption, the alert level for La Soufrière was decreased from Red (eruption ongoing) to Orange (eruption may occur with less than 24 hours notice) on May 6.
Because St. Vincent and the Grenadines are home to several volcanoes, the country and its residents are well-prepared for the immediate effects of an eruption of this size.
While no deaths or injuries have been immediately reported, the country is covered in gritty and destructive volcanic ash. Unlike ash from fires, volcanic ash is composed of tiny particles of volcanic rock, leaving it much more abrasive than standard ash.
A thick layer of ash covers roads, buildings and vegetation, and the air is polluted by dust and debris after the explosive eruption of La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent on April 9, 2021. (Photo credit: Prof Robertson, UWI Seismic Research Centre)
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