Head of the seismic research unit in Trinidad, Dr. Richard Robertson has advised Dominicans to be more educated about the volcanoes on island.
Dr. Robertson’s comments were made after multiple reports of earthquakes affecting the island over the weekend.
“Like any other kind of emergency, in any case we’re heading to the hurricane season so I think if you were preparing for that, you would have measures in place to cater for any possibility of anything happening in terms of the volcano,” he said
“And of course, keep yourself informed. Make sure you listen the news. Listen to authoritative sources of news [the] Office of Disaster Management (ODM) puts out….” Robertson said.”There’s a lot of misinformation out there so make sure you get an authentic source of news and information. Educate yourself about volcanoes, about volcanism in your island. Make yourself informed of what is happening and what can happen.”
Robertson said it should in people’s interest to do be more informative on the country’s volcanoes whether or not anything happens.
“It’s a useful thing because that is one of the things they have to deal with in a place like Dominica,” he pointed out.
Roberts said at some point volcanoes in Dominica could cause problems in the future.
The Office of Disaster Management reported that from 10pm Friday to 10pm Saturday, when the vigorous swarm of earthquakes began, a total of 426 events were recorded, all originating from the eastern section of the Roseau Valley area.
The ODM release added the activity began subsiding from noon on Saturday.
There are nine active volcanoes in Dominica. They are: Morne au Diable, Morne Trois Pitons, Morne Diablotin, Morne Watt, Morne Anglais, Wotten Waven Caldera, Valley of Desolation, Grande Soufriere Hills and Morne Plat Pays.
I’m disappointed that Dr. Richard Robertson didn’t even mention one place where people can look for information to educate themselves about volcanoes.
Is It a Coincidence or by Fate?
Political Eruption! 40 years* to the month after the horrible victimization, unrest, destruction, and injustices done overnight by a politically driven group to motivate the masses to attack certain dominicians in the capital, Roseau and the valley (Trafalgar). Suddenly there is an “unrest” and sudden bursts of seismic activity in the area in 2019.
Sometimes, everything seems to synchronize inexplicably, so that two seemingly unrelated situations match up. As a result, people have always associated these chance occurrences with a higher power, making us wonder if they are coincidence or fate or synchronicity.
Intensification overnight! Says Mr. Fitzroy Pascal! Is our forgotten and grievous actions of the past something that can explain it, or is fate simply chaotic and indecipherable? Hmmph!
Is It a Coincidence or by Fate? 40 years to the month after the horrible victimization, unrest, destruction, and injustice done to certain dominicians in the capital, Roseau and the valley (Trafalgar) that suddenly there is an “unrest”of seismic activity.
Sometimes, everything seems to synchronize inexplicably, so that two seemingly unrelated situations match up. As a result, people have always associated these chance occurrences with a higher power, making us wonder if they are coincidence or fate or synchronicity.
Is our forgotten actions of the past something that can explain it, or is fate simply chaotic and indecipherable?
It is vital that information be circulated in whatever ways possible (Radio/Social Media) informing the individuals to watch out for changes in sea level during these events. Protocols should be in place to notify individuals with audible devices loud enough to alert large communities. I plead with those in authority to think of these and other disasters which may one day affect the Caribbean as never seen before. We need to be proactive and not reactive. It is sad to say that a lot of things which are in place since Dominica gained independence is still some of the things we rely on today. Our Fire and Ambulance Department and even our Police needs a lot of training (They are not ready yet) and I say that as a serious constructive criticism after working with them in a few simulation exercises. Wake up my people…. Chebe Fort….
It is rather interesting that there is nothing in place in case any one of these linked disasters (Tsunami/Volcanic eruption) takes place in Dominica. I have not seen to this date any evacuation routes, muster points or safe collecting point signs anywhere on the island. A climate resilience country should at least have some things in place as part of it’s safety plans for its people, especially those living on the coast and in the interior at the base of some of these volcanos. Are there any simulation exercises taking place to inform the people accordingly? Does anyone on the island know what to do in case of a Tsunami or a Volcanic eruption? These are pertinent questions and the Office of Disaster Management should be focused on issues such as these, since they are fundamentally important to the safety of every individual on the island.
I remember being in the MOE in 1998 when one of the episodes started. There was a pungent smell of sulphur all over Roseau and i had just gone to town figure out what was up with my pay check. While in one of the clarks office, she grabbed my hands and said look it. She was in a panic, uttering some stiffled stress noise while i stood frozen waiting for ministry to collapse. There was a low humming sound which i guess came from the swaying of the building and the only thing i could think of was how lucky i am to be in this building. The irony is i was a young geo teacher at one high school and gave coutless lessons on formation of the west Indies and what to do in case of volcanoes and earthquakes. I pursued a degre in geology mainly because i thought it would be usefull in Dominica. I will say this: it is time to start development of possi with addition of every gov service. The time will come when that will serve us well because Roseau is a disaster waiting to happen. Pay attention.
Serious volcanic activity in Dominica is a just question of WHEN and WHERE…next week, next year, next decade, next century? Roseau is at high risk. The recent cluster of tremors under the area between Roseau Valley and La Plaine emphasizes that. Shallow clusters of tremors presage volcanic eruptions, but, as we’ve seen here in Dominica, a volcanic eruption does not necessarily follow clusters of tremors. It does mean though that there is movement in the magma chamber at about 5 km depth. Key question: is pressure building within it? Continued tremors and changes in hot springs and fumarolic activity (Valley of Desolation) would be ominous signs.
In the current political frenzy paralyzing rational thought in Dominica, probably not much attention is being paid to the rumblings beneath our feet. But keep in mind that volcanic eruptions trump politics every time.
Pay attention to the earth movements not the smoke and mirrors political game.
Under the current DNO news item titled “ODM Update on Seismic Activity” I commented as follows:
“There is a link between earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The shifting of the Earth’s tectonic plates against each other can disturb the magma beneath volcanoes, thus causing a greater likelihood of eruption.
In our quest for “resilience”, it should be remembered that the Volcanic Hazard Maps for Dominica rank the risk for the City of Roseau and the Roseau Valley as High to Very High.
This begs the question: What procedures have the Office of Disaster Management considered in the light of this eventuality?”
Dr. Richard Robertson advice substantiates my concerns.