KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines says it will strengthen surveillance and monitoring of the La Soufrière volcano through new appointments, the installation of eight additional mountain monitoring stations, and upgrades to existing sites.

The La Sourfriere volcano last erupted explosively in April 2021, following increased activity that started in December 2020, causing widespread ashfall, evacuations of over 20,000 people and significant disruption.

The eruption transitioned from an effusive phase to explosive events, with the last major explosive activity recorded around April 22, 2021, after about four months of heightened volcanic activity.

Disaster Management Minister, St Clair Leacock, speaking during the handover ceremony of the renovated and retrofitted Volcano Observatory, said the Government will fill the posts of geoscientist and seismic technician this year and that the observatory will support advanced research, including volcanic monitoring, community-based early warning systems and international university-led studies.

“There’s a lot of engineering, a lot of technical work here and a lot of sophistication. I say this not just to applaud those who have done all of that great work, but also by way of appealing to those of us who are around, who some may say have mischievous hands, not to trouble those things that we did not put down and remove important equipment that lends to the safety of us Vincentians,” Leacock said, noting that the refurbished station represents continuity and praised the previous administration’s work in volcano monitoring and advancing disaster preparedness.

“My Government will continue to ensure that the La Soufriere Monitoring Unit of NEMO continues to receive the support to ensure that La Soufriere volcano is constantly monitored and that it behaves itself,” Leacock said, urging people not to damage or remove volcano monitoring equipment.

The observatory project was executed at EC$4.6 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) through a concessional loan from the World Bank. The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) received a EC$1 million grant for seismic stations and monitoring equipment to further strengthen volcano surveillance.