ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada--Seismic officials have increased the alert level for underwater volcano Kick ‘em Jenny, to orange after recording increased activity. And even after activity declined on Tuesday, the alert remained.
The alert for the submarine volcano, located 8 kilometres (km) north of Grenada, was raised from yellow on Monday by the University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) in Trinidad.
The orange alert means there is a highly elevated level of seismic and/or fumarolic activity or other unusual activity, and eruption may begin with less than 24 hours’ notice.
“Overnight, during March 11-12 period, a substantial increase in earthquake activity associated with the volcano was recorded,” the Centre said, with the National Disaster Management Agency NaDMA in Grenada adding that with the heightened alert, ships and other marine operators should observe an exclusion zone of 5km (3.1 miles).
Since then, the UWI-SRC has reported that earthquake activity has slowed.
NaDMA said that it would monitor the activities in collaboration with the UWI-SRC.
Kick ‘em Jenny is one of the most active volcanoes in the Eastern Caribbean. It is 1,300 metres (m) high and its summit is currently estimated to be about 200m below the surface of the sea. ~ Caribbean360 ~
