River in Martinique calm after mudflow from Mt. Pelee

Large rocks carried by the river. Photo:
Martinique 1ère

A river in Martinique, Prêcheur River, is now calm after mudflow from the active volcano Mt. Pelee raised concerns among residents.

The mudflow took place when a section of Mt. Pelee collapsed due to heavy rains causing the level of the river to rise suddenly.

Media reports indicate that although calm has returned residents in the area are still amazed by the strength of the phenomenon.

“When the river came down, I heard the noise, oh yes! it scared everyone, and we went out of our houses to see what was happening,” one resident was quoted as saying.

According to media reports, such phenomenon is not uncommon as it takes place once every ten years and is not a sign of an eruption by the volcano.

“Since the beginning of last week there are landslides that occur upstream of the commune of Prêcheur and they accumulate in the slope and when there are violent rains, these landslides are dragged into the river; we know that there are always deposits at the foot of the cliff and if we have abundant rains again, we risk having the same phenomenon again,” V. Clouard, Director of the Volcano Observatory said.

He said for several years an alert system has been installed in the river but it must be reinforced.

 

 

 

 

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9 Comments

  1. Truth Be Told
    January 16, 2018

    Notice the bridge did not wash away because it is highly suspended above the river. Lessons for Dominica!

  2. January 15, 2018

    Thank you Florida diaspora you said it well , thank [Preace and inspire]

  3. mouth of the south
    January 15, 2018

    One is wondering if it’s Mount Pelee, another is emotionally engaged with UWP and Skerrit… well I am just in awe of the bridge… It has no pillars placed in the immediate flow of the river… seemingly has a design of suspension technology… maybe we should mirror our neighbours in the south when building bridges…

  4. Iloveda
    January 15, 2018

    If this was in Dominica the uwp and it’s supporters would be critizing Skerrit for this natural disaster. They would say something bizarre like “Skerrit should have sent 5000 excavators to dig away the dome before it collapses”, or “Skerrit should have build a giant wall like the Great Wall of a China to hold it back when it collapsed”

    • Florida Diaspora
      January 15, 2018

      Stupesss…. The real fact is if this useless labor party had served in office in any other country they would have been voted out a long time ago much less for them to to still be there for people to even blame them for natural disasters. So thanks to idiots like you who keep on voting them in we still have a skeritt to blame for natural disasters which comes as a punishment from God because of our wickedness to have that party there still after 17 years

      • Iloveda
        January 15, 2018

        How can a man bring natural disasters? You people are silly. That’s why I make comments like the one I made. You just proved it.

      • Expat
        January 15, 2018

        Punishment from God my a.. . Be rational.

    • ManiCou
      January 16, 2018

      Can anyone critize labour without them being perceived as a UWP supporter? Some of us just want what is good for our country.

  5. Marie
    January 15, 2018

    Are you sure is Pelee’ or another mountain nearby? Get it straight

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