The La Soufriere volcano eruption leaves area of St. Vincent unreclaimable
The rebuilding of houses in some communities which existed before the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines may not be possible due to the threat of lahars and other hazards.
Director of the UWI Seismic Research Centre, Dr Erouscilla Joseph, who is now heading the observation team in St Vincent and the Grenadines, spoke on the topic during the ‘Eyeing La Soufriere’ program today.
She says a preliminary revision has been done to the hazard maps that included lahars, pyroclastic surges, and ashfall, originally done from the mapping of the island and the historical activity from the 1902 eruption.
Joseph says the previous map was used to compare with what has occurred in 2020/2021 for revision.
She says the team has done a preliminary revision based on the current explosive activity that took place and has a new preliminary map shows where the present lahar hazards are and the extent of those hazards.
She notes that while there have been lahars going down the western and, to some extent, the eastern flanks, the main concern is the north-eastern side where there are communities.
With the potential of reoccupation there, she says the authorities must go through those areas to identify further buffer zones and areas where people may not be preoccupied due to safety concerns and identify safe areas where housing could be planned to keep people safe from hazards of lahars.
Meanwhile, the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines says a committee headed by Chief Physical Planner Dorset Hull has been established to demarcate areas above the dry river where persons will not be rebuilt.
The rest of the committee consists of the Director of NEMO, the Chief Engineer or a representative, the Chief Surveyor, Professor Richard Robertson, Advisor to the Committee, and Dr Erouscilla Joseph, UWI Director of the Seismic Research Centre, who will offer technical assistance.
At a recent National Emergency Council meeting, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said it was necessary to set up the committee to carry out this essential function. There are vulnerable areas where persons would not be allowed to rebuild.
He said the decision as to which areas are prohibited would be published, and physical markers would also be put down to indicate where people can and cannot build.
Gonsalves also announced that the government, in conjunction with an NGO, will be constructing 27 houses on the Leeward side of the country where homes were badly affected during the volcanic eruptions.
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