San Juan.- Two cruises from Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises are scheduled to arrive in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines this midnight to help evacuate those who live near the La Soufriere volcano, which is in danger of an eruption.
In a joint statement, both companies say they are working “closely” with local authorities to help residents “at greater risk.”
The ships that will arrive are the “Serenade of the seas”, in the case of Royal Caribbean International, and the “Celebrity Reflection”, in that of Celebrity Cruises, which are already “on their way”.
“All necessary precautions will be taken to protect the health and safety of the crew and those on board,” the statement concludes.
The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) indicated that others will be housed in shelters.
Some local media estimate around 15,000 people affected.
In addition, the NEMO has raised the alert level from orange to red.
The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ordered this Thursday to evacuate part of the first of the islands of this small Caribbean territory in the face of an imminent eruption of the La Soufriere volcano, which in recent days had seen an increase in seismic activity.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the order for the immediate evacuation of the northeast and northwest area of the island.
Nor will they be able to navigate boats in the vicinity.
In addition, NEMO has activated its National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), which began operating around the clock.
Gonsalves, during a press conference this Thursday after registering a new series of tremors, had asked the population for maximum alert.
The scientist in charge of controlling the activity of the La Soufriere volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the geologist Richard Robertson, reported that between 03:00 and 10:00 in the morning of this Thursday, the control stations detected seismic activity.
He said that long-duration movements were reported, which are a sign that fresh magma is trying to reach the surface, so all indications show that the volcano wants to go to an explosive stage.
He clarified that the explosive eruption could be registered in the next few hours or days after clarifying that it is not ruled out that the volcano could return to normal.
However, with the information available, the monitoring team cannot yet say when an explosive eruption could occur, Robertson said.
“We are now in a period where we would not be surprised if at some point we have explosive activity,” he said.
“The volcano has changed, it has given us a little more signals,” he said, after adding that the activity began with an effusion of liquid and then with tremors that are associated with the steam driven by the magma.
He said that the possibility that the material that now comes out of the volcano has more energy is what increases the chances of an explosive eruption.
NEMO Director Michelle Forbes said her team had been in contact with various government agencies to increase preparations for an evacuation.
He said that disaster managers were preparing shelters and that the national disaster management council would meet this Thursday, in addition to stressing that communities in the north of the island of San Vicente should be prepared.
Gonsalves stressed that his government will follow the advice of Robertson and his team of scientists.
He added that he has already contacted the prime ministers of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda regarding a potential repatriation of some 20,000 people should the need arise.
Gonsalves said that Barbados and Saint Lucia are willing to receive evacuees, but that they will have to be vaccinated against covid-19 and asked that some of their citizens evacuated abroad be accepted with their identification card only.
He added that his government has also been in contact with friendly nations, including the United States, Cuba and Venezuela to discuss possible assistance.
For his part, the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, has indicated that when he receives the list of needs to face the emergency from the San Vicente executive, he will send help.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has not seen prominent volcanic activity since 1979.
An explosive eruption at La Soufriere in 1902 killed more than 1,000 people.
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