April 9, 2021 Eruption of Soufriere St. Vincent

The eruptions of the La Soufriere volcano which began on 9 April are expected to displace close to 20,000 persons with over 12,700 evacuees now registered in public shelters and in private homes. Entire villages have been covered in ashes, buildings damaged , schools and businesses closed, crops and livestock destroyed, and residents left with limited access to clean drinking water. Further eruptions are expected in the coming weeks. (reference #12921)

The agriculture sector team comprising SVG Ministry of Agriculture, CARDI, FAO and IICA estimated damage in red and orange zones equate to an economic loss of USD 109 M in crops and livestock, 5.1 M in fisheries, 19 M in forestry and wildlife and 20 M in farm building and infrastructure. (reference #12925)

A new dome broke through the crater floor on 27 December 2020, on the south-west perimeter of the existing dome. The 9th of April 2021, the activity moved to explosive activity, and since that time several volcanic plumes have occurred as well as pyroclastic flows. The 19th of April, SRC reported that pyroclastic flows produced by the eruption of Soufrière St Vincent have descended the western flank of the volcano and have reached the Caribbean sea and they informed the TSP. Our TSP has observed a 10-cm high tsunami on a tide gauge located to the south of St Vincent. SRC indicates that the eruptive phase can continue over the next days or weeks. (reference #13660)