PORT OF SPAIN--An orange alert remains in place as elevated activity at underwater volcano Kick ‘em Jenny continues, but seismic and disaster management experts in Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago are urging people not to panic, but stay vigilant, as it poses no significant threat.
As residents of the islands posted messages on social media expressing their fear of a possible tsunami, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre (SRC) said it was “unlikely that an eruption will trigger a tsunami,” explaining that Kick ‘em Jenny’s vent, at 268 metres deep, is considerably lower than the depth at which very explosive eruptions can be expected at the volcano – 130 metres; but, because gases released by the volcano can lower the density of the water and cause boats to sink, even if it is not erupting, mariners have been advised by the SRC not to enter within a 5km radius of Kick ‘em Jenny’s summit.
The orange alert, which indicates there is highly elevated level of seismic and/or fumarolic activity or other unusual activity, went into effect after strong, continuous signals were recorded at the volcano located 8km north of Grenada, yesterday. Disaster management officials in the four Caribbean countries highlighted in the alert went into planning mode and, at press conferences and in statements issued after their meetings, their message to residents was the same: there is no need to panic.
In Grenada, a statement circulated after researcher at the Trinidad-based SRC Lloyd Lynch briefed disaster management officials indicated that the renewed activity at the volcano, which last erupted in December 2001 with no damage noted, represented no significant threat to the coastal regions of nearby islands. He told an emergency meeting of the National Emergency Advisory Committee that more minor eruptions can be expected; however, he said the volcano remains well below the surface, cancelling out any threat of a major tsunami.
The Department of Emergency Management in Barbados, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent’s National Emergency Management Organisation delivered a similar message to the communities they serve. The Seismic Research Centre says unless the activity at the volcano either decreases or increases, the alert will remain at orange.
