2021 eruption of La Soufrière
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La Soufrière, a stratovolcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines () is an island country in the Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea w ...
, began an effusive eruption on 27 December 2020. On 9 April 2021 there was an explosive eruption, and the volcano "continued to erupt explosively" over the following days, with
pyroclastic flow A pyroclastic flow (also known as a pyroclastic density current or a pyroclastic cloud) is a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter (collectively known as tephra) that flows along the ground away from a volcano at average speeds of b ...
s. The activity pattern of the eruption was comparable to that of the event that occurred in 1902, which had a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4. The volcano is known to have erupted 23 times in the last 4,000 years, and had been dormant since 1979. Evacuation of the inhabitants of the island began when the explosive eruptions started. Many countries, including islands in the region, and organisations provided relief and support. Services such as electricity and water were severely affected. Emitted ash and sulfur dioxide gas affected the population. The
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
made evacuation more difficult, requiring usual COVID-19 precautions to avoid outbreaks.


Effusive phase

As volcanoes like La Soufrière can very suddenly switch between effusive and explosive eruption phases,
volcanologist A volcanologist, or volcano scientist, is a geologist who focuses on understanding the formation and eruptive activity of volcanoes. Volcanologists frequently visit volcanoes, sometimes active ones, to observe and monitor volcanic eruptions, col ...
s were on high alert once an effusive eruption formed a new lava dome inside the summit crater on 27 December 2020. The lava dome was created on the west-southwest edge of an earlier dome that had formed during the 1979 eruption. Government officials began to reach out to residents in the area throughout December and January in order to review evacuation plans in case volcanic activity escalated. The effusive eruption continued into January, during which time the lava dome had grown. On 6–12 January, the dome grew and expanded to the west, produced small
rockfall A rockfall or rock-fallWhittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984. . is a quantity/sheets of rock that has fallen freely from a cliff face. The term is also used for collapse of rock from roof or walls of mi ...
s and emitted gas and steam plumes. The lava dome had grown taller on 14 January and had expanded to the east and west. Vegetation on the east, south and west inner crater walls was extensively damaged on 15 January, with the dome estimated to have been high, wide and long. On January 16, the expanding western dome front reached temperatures of around . A small circular depression at the top of the lava dome was releasing gas emissions. On 20–26 January, the lava dome continued to grow, releasing gas and steam plumes. The dome attained a volume of on 27 January, when it was estimated to be long, wide and tall. In February 2021, the lava dome was still actively growing, releasing gas and steam plumes from its top. Sulfur dioxide emissions were first detected on 1 February, which suggested that groundwater was drying up and no longer interacting with the gas species. A report of anomalously higher temperatures and gas odors prompted scientists to visit the Wallibou Hot Spring area on 7 February where they had detected hydrogen sulfide and a 5-6 degree increase in temperatures. The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reminded the public to avoid the volcano and that descending into the crater remained extremely dangerous. By 12 February, the lava dome was long, wide and tall, attaining a volume of . The lava dome continued to slowly grow and release gas and steam throughout March 2021. By 22 March 2021, the lava dome was tall, wide and long. Sulfur dioxide was being released from the top of the dome. A swarm of small low-frequency seismic events lasting about 45 minutes was detected by the regional monitoring network on 23 March. The cause of this swarm was likely due to magma movement beneath the dome. A series of
volcano tectonic earthquake A volcano tectonic earthquake is caused by the movement of magma beneath the surface of the Earth. The movement results in pressure changes where the rock around the magma has experienced stress. At some point, this stress can cause the rock to bre ...
s was subsequently felt in the neighboring communities of Fancy, Owia and New Sandy Bay Village. These volcano tectonic earthquakes lasted until 26 March when only small, low frequency events associated with the growth of the lava dome were detected. Growth of the lava dome continued into April 2021, during which time gas and steam continued to rise from its top. A swarm of volcano tectonic earthquakes more intense than the previous one began on 5 April. The events were felt in the nearby communities of Fancy and Chateaubelair. On 8 April, after a sustained increase of volcanic and seismic activity over the preceding days, a red alert was declared and an evacuation order issued as an explosion was deemed to be imminent.


Explosive phase

An explosive eruption occurred at on 9 April 2021, with an ash plume reaching approximately and drifting eastward towards the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 16,000 people were told to evacuate the area surrounding the volcano. A warning stated that the eruption was "likely to continue for days and possibly weeks". Another explosive eruption, created by multiple pulses of ash, was reported that afternoon. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (SRC) reported a third explosive eruption starting on the evening of 9 April at 6:45 p.m. AST. Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and
Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate) ...
all agreed to take in evacuees. Prime Minister
Ralph Gonsalves Ralph Everard Gonsalves (born 8 August 1946) is a Vincentian politician. He is currently the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and leader of the Unity Labour Party (ULP).
encouraged people evacuating to shelters elsewhere on Saint Vincent to take the COVID-19 vaccine and said people must be vaccinated to board cruise ships or to be granted refuge on another island. Venezuelan Foreign Minister
Jorge Arreaza Jorge Alberto Arreaza Montserrat (Venezuelan ; born 6 June 1973) is a Venezuelan politician who has held several important positions in the administration of President Hugo Chávez and his successor Nicolás Maduro. From August 2017 to August ...
announced via
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that his country would send humanitarian supplies and risk experts. Carnival Cruise Lines sent '' Carnival Paradise'' and ''
Carnival Legend ''Carnival Legend'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on December 17, 2001, and christened by English actress and author Dame Judi Denc ...
''; each had a capacity to transport up to 1,500 residents to neighbouring islands. The cruise line
Royal Caribbean Group Royal Caribbean Group, formerly known as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., is a global cruise holding company incorporated in Liberia and based in Miami, Florida, United States. It is the world's second-largest cruise line operator, after Carnival C ...
sent ''
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'' and '' Celebrity Reflection''. Only those who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be accepted as evacuees by some other islands. Another explosive event occurred on 11 April 2021. Prime Minister Gonsalves reported that water could no longer be supplied to most of the island, and the local airspace had been closed due to the pollution in the air. An official added: "We are covered in ash and strong sulphur scents pervade the air. ke the necessary precautions to remain safe and healthy". The
Barbados Defence Force The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is the name given to the combined armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established 15 August 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the ...
was deployed to the island on a "humanitarian assistance and disaster response" mission. The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network warned that the ash is a "nuisance" to healthy people, but the ash and sulfur dioxide gas "could affect asthmatics and others with chronic health conditions". One source reported that by 12:00 p.m. AST (16:00 UTC), "power had been restored", according to residents. Finance Minister
Camillo Gonsalves Camillo Michael Gonsalves (born 12 June 1972) is a Vincentian politician, lawyer and diplomat. Gonsalves is the current Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the current ...
expected some 16,000 people to be displaced "for about three to four months". He also expressed concern about the impact on the island's agriculture, stating that " st crops ... will be lost, and untold livestock". Finance Minister Gonsalves added that a number of houses had collapsed under the weight of the ash. Barbados, located about east of Saint Vincent, had also been affected by the ash.
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...
Mia Amor Mottley stated that Barbados needed to prepare for weeks of falling ash. Significant amounts of ash were on the roads in Barbados by the afternoon of 11 April, and a local road safety association urged drivers to use "extreme caution" while driving because the roads were "very hazardous". Barbados's
Grantley Adams International Airport Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) is the international airport of Barbados, located in Seawell, Christ Church. It is the only designated port of entry for persons arriving and departing by air in Barbados and operates as one of th ...
remained closed. The Seismic Research Centre stated on 13 April that Barbados would continue to be affected by ash fall "for days", and in a worst-case scenario, for "weeks".Reports on 12 April stated that the volcano erupted again that morning and "continues to erupt explosively", generating
pyroclastic flow A pyroclastic flow (also known as a pyroclastic density current or a pyroclastic cloud) is a fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter (collectively known as tephra) that flows along the ground away from a volcano at average speeds of b ...
s. According to the SRC, "It's destroying everything in its path". Richard Robertson of the SRC said that both the old and new dome had been destroyed, and that "a new crater has been created". A late afternoon report on 12 April stated that the "power and water supply is intermittent in some communities". Eruptions ended on 22 April after four months of activity.


Evacuation and relief efforts

The northern half of the island was most significantly affected. By 12 April, 16,000 residents had evacuated the areas of their homes; the PM pleaded with residents who had refused to leave: "it's past the hour to get out". Some 3,200 persons were living in government shelters. The United Nations stated that "about 20,000 evacuees on the Caribbean island are currently in need of shelter", and warned of a humanitarian crisis: "We are dealing with a crisis within the COVID crisis". The report added that "most livelihoods in the northern part of the island" had been seriously affected. The organization was sending water and "sanitation hygiene supplies" from Barbados. Nearby countries were also providing emergency supplies. The United Kingdom announced a £200,000 initial funding package for immediate emergency assistance and said it would send technical experts to help "restore critical lifeline facilities, like transport links ... and emergency telecommunications". The government of
Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
said it would send 50 members of its Defence Force, including "engineers, infantry/ provost, medical, and logistics". The Government of Grenada and other companies have also pledged to give St. Vincent and the Grenadines more than $1 million and other items such as food and water as part of its support towards helping St. Vincent and the Grenadines recover from the eruption. The PM of St. Kitts and Nevis offered an immediate US$20,000 and promised to provide EC$1 million "to assist with the evacuation and resettling" as well as assistance from its
defence Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense indus ...
and police forces. The Government of Montserrat announced an aid package of EC$150,000, as well as essential supplies.
Digicel Digicel is a Jamaican and Caribbean mobile phone network and home entertainment provider operating in 33 markets worldwide. Digicel has operated in several countries, including Guyana, Fiji, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Suriname, a ...
planned to donate US$500,000 "worth of much-needed items" and offered to ship essentials to St Vincent for the NEMO. The
Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), formerly known as the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office, is the European Commission's department for overseas humanitarian aid and for civil ...
in Europe was considering a plea for "financial and in-kind assistance" from St. Vincent and activated its Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). The UN agreed to provide assistance from the
United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on th ...
to help remove debris and ash and a spokesperson said it would be considering the request from the Prime Minister for other assistance, including financial. The
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a United Nations (UN) body established in December 1991 by the General Assembly to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disaster ...
estimated in mid April that the financial impact of the crisis would be approximately US$554 million. On 14 April, the UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Caribbean, Didier Trebucq, announced the start of a UN funding appeal. On 13 April, the
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
announced that it would provide US$20 million from its Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option "to support the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government". By 15 April 2021, there were major concerns over COVID-19, fueled by the lack of water and positive cases being reported amongst evacuees crowded into shelters and living in cramped conditions in people's homes. About a dozen cases of COVID-19 had been reported, with multiple others reportedly having been in close contact with them.


See also

*
1902 eruption of Mount Pelée The 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée was a volcanic eruption on the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc of the eastern Caribbean, which was one of the deadliest eruptions in recorded history. Eruptive activity began on 23 Apri ...
*
Kick 'em Jenny Kick 'em Jenny (also: Kick-'em-Jenny or Mt. Kick-'Em-Jenny) is an active submarine volcano or seamount on the Caribbean Sea floor, located north of the island of Grenada and about west of Ronde Island in the Grenadines. Kick-'em-Jenny rises a ...
* List of volcanic eruptions by death toll *
Soufrière Hills The Soufrière Hills are an active, complex stratovolcano with many lava domes forming its summit on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. After a long period of dormancy, the Soufrière Hills volcano became active in 1995 and has continued to ...


References


External links


The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre

National Emergency Management Organisation
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program , Soufrière St. Vincent




{{DEFAULTSORT:Eruption of La Soufriere, 2021 2021 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2021 natural disasters Natural disasters in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Peléan eruptions Phreatic eruptions Soufrière Volcanic eruptions in 2021