MVO Keeps Residents Assured as Volcanic Ash from St. Vincent's La Soufriere Volcano Reaches Montserrat
Montserrat has begun experiencing ash emissions from the La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent.
This was confirmed by Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Dr Graham Ryan.
Speaking on the Breakfast Show Tuesday, Dr Ryan said due to a change in wind direction, Montserrat has been, and will continue to experience light spells of the volcanic remnants.
La soufriere volcano in St Vincent began erupting explosively last Thursday, and continues to produce ash plumes which have transformed day into night on Barbados for the past few days.
Dr. Ryan also reassured residents here that the smell of gas/sulphur dioxide on the island Tuesday, is no cause for concern, but rather comes from the change in wind direction, which is pushing the gas north of the island.
In a bid to allay the fears of residents, Dr. Ryan adds that activity at the Sourfriere Hills Volcano remains normal.
Director of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO), Dr Graham Ryan.
Meantime, a weather advisory from the Antigua met office stated that a shift of winds at the lower levels of the atmosphere could result in volcanic emissions, including ash and dust, reaching Montserrat and the rest of the northeast Caribbean from La Soufrière Volcano in St. Vincent.
It says the chance of emissions reaching the islands is low but there is a reasonable worst-case scenario of it happening.
Meterologist Dale Destin says if it does happen, the impacts would be minor, at most, but the threat of health problems would be elevated, for mainly unusually sensitive people, such as asthmatics, people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children.