Official
Volcano
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (update)
On 19 April 2021, according to the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center, continuous seismic tremors on 18 April at the La Soufrière Volcano generated explosive activity that lasted until 9:00 P.M. The resulting eruption plume rose to above 8km and drifted to the south and southwest of the island. Additionally, rockfall was recorded, at 1:39 A.M. of 19 April. The GPS network has shown a change in horizontal and vertical movement since the initial depressurization noted following the 9 April explosive phase. Additionally, according to the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency, as of 18 April a there are a total of 88 active shelters in which a total of 4,042 persons have been registered and an additional 5,398 persons are housed in private shelters. Furthermore, the initial overview of the impact on agriculture indicates that 60% of the crops are covered with ash, a food processing factory has been destroyed and livestock in the Red Zone are on the loose. According to the Daily Live Update with Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar informed that on 16 April, a program to assist livestock farmers was launched in order to assist them with animal feed (since pastures have been affected by ashfall). Furthermore, according to a Press Conference from the Barbados Prime Minister informed that in Barbados, reports of animals with respiratory illnesses caused by the ashfall from the eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano have been reported. The reports are available at: UWI Seismic Research, UWI Seismic Research Animation, CDEMA SitRep #17, and GIS Barbados Press Conference
