Montserrat declared a disaster area

Montserrat has been declared a disaster area, and an emergency meeting of the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG) has been called to determine the extent and type of relief required by the Caribbean island.  According to reports from the Caribbean Disaster Reponse Agency (CDERA), a large section of the Soufriere Hills Volcano’s dome collapsed around 10.45 pm last Saturday, causing ash and pumice to fall islandwide. Pyroclastic flows were also reported mainly down the Tar River Valley and only one person was reported injured by stones from a rock fall.  Ash falls were also reported in the neighbouring states of Antigua, Anguilla, St Kitts/Nevis, St Croix and St Maarten. Contacted yesterday at CDERA headquarters in Barbados, head of CDERA’s Preparation and Response Unit Major Shelton De Four told Newsday that following Saturday’s explosion, the entire island has been declared a disaster area and members of Montserrat’s Central Services are currently out assessing the extent of damages to the roads, water supply, the St John’s Hospital and other parts of Montserrat’s infrastructure. In addition, an island-wide clean up is underway. Major De Four said the ECDG was scheduled to meet in emergency session at 3 pm at its Barbados office in order to assess the situation and determine the type of aid required by Montserrat and, how group members can contribute. He stated that the ECDG will also determine whether any extra-regional assistance should be sought.

De Four said scientists have advised that the major explosion was over, but smaller explosions may occur intermittently over the next few days or weeks. He said volcanic activity at Soufriere was being closely monitored. However, he indicated that while scientists expect minimal pyroclastic and mud flows, the 4,500 persons living in the “safe zone” in the northern half of the island are in no danger. Major De Four also indicated that operations at St Kitts/Nevis’ Airport were returning to normal following clean-up activities there. Flights in and out of St Kitts/Nevis were cancelled on Sunday, due to ash falls from the Soufriere Volcano. The airport in Anguilla was also closed on Sunday, due to the ash falls, but there was no damage to that island’s infrastructure. Lars Ottemoller, a seismologist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, said air flights were back to normal and there was no immediate danger to the islanders. He reported that emergency officials in Montserrat were meeting yesterday to discuss downed power and telephone lines affecting some sections of the island, and mud-covered roads. Some area were still without water, he added. The Soufriere Hills volcano sprang to life in 1995, chasing away more than half of the British Caribbean island’s population. An eruption in 1997 killed 19 people and buried the capital of Plymouth. The peak he reported, still cast a reddish-orange glow at night. Scientists monitor it and report any changes to the island’s 4,500 residents who live in northern areas that have been declared safe.