The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI SRC) is warning that there is an increase in seismic activity around Kick’em-Jenny, the underwater volcano just off the coast of Grenada.
Based on these activities, the alert level is at YELLOW, meaning that all marine interests should stay at least 1.5 kilometers away from the area.
The YELLOW alert level also means that the volcano is restless with earthquakes and fumarolic activities or both are above historic levels. Fumaroles are openings that emit steam and volcanic gases, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
According to UWI SRC, the activities began on Friday, February 9, 2024, and are still ongoing.
“The largest seismic activity measured 3.3 on February 10th with reports of these events being felt in the north of Grenada,” it said.
The organization said it will continue to monitor the situation with its four fully functional seismic stations in the north of Grenada.
Grenada’s National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) said it is monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said in a statement that the present activities at Kick’em-Jenny are in no way related to the La Soufrière volcano.
However, it warned fishermen to stay away from the area and observe the 1.5 km exclusion zone. It told residents in the Southern Grenadines to monitor releases from the Government of Grenada, NEMO, and UWI SRC.
Kick’em-Jenny is located about 8 km north of Grenada and is the only known ‘live’ underwater volcano in the Eastern Caribbean. It rises to 4,300 feet above the surrounding seafloor. The summit is about 600 feet below sea level.
According to geology.com, it is one of the most active volcanoes in the Eastern Caribbean and was unknown until an explosion in 1939 produced an ash cloud that rose 900 feet above the ocean surface. The eruption also produced a series of small tsunamis. Since then, it has erupted 14 times with the last one taking place on April 29, 2017.
These are perilous times we are living in. Threats from earthquakes, hurricanes, floods landslips, tsunamis, and other natural catastrophes are ever present. We have to heed the warnings of our disaster management agencies.
What about heeding the warning of the Almighty? Is man greater than God?