Authorities at the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and the Forestry Division have warned residents and visitors alike that they should desist from going to the Boiling Lake with immediate effect.
They also said it has been brought to their attention that people have been swimming in the lake as the water is now cold and they should stop doing so immediately.
The local authorities, together with the Trinidad-based Seismic Research Center of the University of the West Indies, say they have been monitoring a situation at the Boiling Lake for the past few days in which water levels have been changing, a phenomenon that has occurred several times since 1876.
As a matter of fact, they say the phenomenon has taken place seven times in the past recorded history – 1876, 1900, 1901, 1971, 1988, 2004 and recently on November 8, 2016 when visitors to the Boiling Lake reported that it had drained again.
“Scientists at The UWI Seismic Research Centre (SRC) have confirmed that changes in water levels at the Boiling Lake are not necessarily related to increased volcanic activity in the area or to geothermal exploration,” the ODM said on Thursday in a statement. “However, during these episodes, harmful gasses, such as Carbon Dioxide, can be released. Small steam explosions may also occur. The last such occurrence was December 2004 to April 2005.”
Recently photos surfaced of people swimming in the lake, a practice the authorities said should stop immediately.
“It has been brought to the attention of the relevant Authorities that people are swimming in the lake as the water is now cold. People involved in this activity should desist with immediate effect since the water can return to its original boiling state with little or no warning,” the ODM said.
Presently only officials monitoring the lake are allowed to visit the area.
“People should also avoid visiting the immediate area until the activity has subsided. Only officials involved in the monitoring of the Boiling Lake should venture in that area,” the ODM said.
The ‘boiling lake’ is not a result of volcanic activity. It is a result of man-made activity – residual chemical waste in an old quarry site.
For those of you numbnuts who believe in volcanoes and the Tooth Fairy, grow up. You have been fed tall tales from birth.
Read, learn and survive: http://rosettedelacroix.com/?p=2599
The tone of your response in not one of an intellectual. Attempt to educate people in the Best way that represents your profession. Knowledge and support. We do appreciate I work that you and colleagues are unfertay on our behalf.
Good luck, keep it up and thanks much for your professional knowledge which represents all of us. We therefore applaud you and your commited fellow workers.
On behalf of all of us we want you to continue to offer this position that we are aware of what is going on we will adhere to and respect your professional messages.
We honour that you work to our interest and security. Many thanks for your sery and obvious knowledge. Keep it up. Gods 🙏 Blessings.
Regards. Wish you all the best and keep up the good work. Thanks much. All the Best. We honour the challenges and work you do on our behalf.
Seismologists study earthquakes not volcanoes or volcanic activity. So far no expert volcanologist or geologist has been asked by the authorities to provide an expert opinion. Call me old fashioned, but asking the most appropriate people for advice would seem like the most appropriate thing to do before hitting the panic button. Dominica is regularly visited by geologists and volcanologists, all of whom know far more about the situation here than Trinidad based seismologists. I wish people would do their jobs properly and find out the facts.
These people must have tested the water and found it cold. Did it not dawn on them that it is a boiling lake which obviously had hot water? Yet they took that chance. Lucky for them that nothing happened to them. They should be interviewed.
OK
I blame Donald Trump ?
So do I. I love your great island.
The headline should read ‘Two stupid tourists cause authorities to panic and close the entire Boiling Lake trail’. Signage warning people about the nature of the fumarole and to maintain a respectful distance would have been the more measured response. It should be there anyway. Perhaps you should close down all the hot sulphur spas too – just in case ….. And boy, what about all those things they call ‘waterfalls’ – water falling from that height could really hurt someone. And there are 365 rivers that could potentially drown people. How about the sea ? Oh my god, close it down in case someone stands on an urchin or fireworm. As for the roads, well they are all perfectly safe of course. No need to worry there, thankfully.
Clueless. Totally and utterly clueless.
U are so stupi. u just plain dumb. its peoplelikeu who give governments unnecessary problems when u get injured or killed after being begged to stop acting stupid
So many tall buildings all around, why don’t these crazy foxes start from the roof?
This is stupidity beyond compression. Why should anyone take that kind of risk is beyond comprehension
That is madness.!!.
As the Boiling Lake gets cold… so the Cold Soufriere up north warms
only a disaster can help da
You AH
wow. they must think this is the fountain of youth.
Hmmm. Well ODM didn’t have to tell me that eh. I not trusting that lake cold business, where de fire go?
This article explains the dynamics of high temperature crater lakes. However I am not dismissing that they should investigate whether the recent drilling within the area will now be factor in this phenomenon.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2008JB005773/pdf
As a matter of fact, they say the phenomenon has taken place seven times in the past recorded history – 1876, 1900, 1901, 1971, 1988, 2004 and recently on November 8, 2016 when visitors to the Boiling Lake reported that it had drained again.The last such occurrence was December 2004 to April 2005.”
SERIOUSLY DID YOU NOT READ THAT PART? in 1876, 1900, 1901, 1971, 1988, there was no drilling then so why in recent years drilling within the area would now be a factor in this phenomenon? stupes!!
I never said the drilling that was done at Laudat or wherever caused the boiling the to dry. I read the article so I clearly understand that. In fact that was the whole point of the article to dismiss those claims that some people may have. However because the area is of high seismic activity and very unstable it is yet to be seen what effects if any drilling may have in the area in the future. Common sense should have inferred to you that’s what I meant.
amen nice answer i like that
Yes DNO thanks for the info….cuz when i saw that pic I was wondering wht the…. was going on…
Sigh.. was planning to hike up there next year.. Never been there
But why people dotish so? What if the water got hot again while they were in it? Each time the lake drains, people start to do foolishness as if they do not know it will fill and boil again.
they wudnt feel the water getting hot. they will jus stay in it…
And boil and cook. In no time they would be stiff as ever. This would be the end of them.
whats ur number?
The issue is not the water getting hot and reaching boiling point in seconds as this is unlikely to happen so they were counting on that as a,safety measure but the more serious issue is the explosion of poisonous gases which are odourless and colorless that could be release without any sign or warning which would kill them in an instant that’s the issue so they can count their lucky stars that this was not case someone else may not be so lucky.
Oh man! And I was having such a great time!
Are there signs which explicitly state “no swimming in the lake”?
Yes, this is the world we live in today where we need a sticker on kettles to say “caution, hot water”
Common sense. It’s “A BOILING LAKE” there are no on and off switches.
So people need a sign to say don’t swim in the boiling lake? Stupppessssss!! Dotish
those risk takers playing with mother nature.
Maybe the boiling lake got the skiroo stress too, everything in dominica going thru the hard time with skiroo even nature
Is there anything, ANYTHING in Dominica that is not Political? There must be one, I am sure of it.
History in the making, world record, ok
world ending.. boiling lake stop boil.. water falls drying up.. what is there for visitors to see now.. oh yeah botanical gardens… tourism is on a rise they said
Botanical garden? Boy, that is now an urban rat run and parking place for people working town. Whehn will we get that bypass so the park can be restored to its former glory and visitors charged an entry fee?
so star can they make the lake boil again can they cause more water to flow at the waterfalls stop being ridiculous
These people are doggone ridiculous!!!!
What will they say and whom will they blame if something happens??
Damn retards!!!
I guess that since people decided to swim in the lake, they are doing this at their own risk
Sign of the times. Is this a warning?
Some people are apparently out to make history by being able to say that they swam in the Boiling Lake. I pray they don’t make history the wrong way. It’s not worth the risk, folks. Stay safe!
The last time the boiling lake dried up, rumblings could be heard/felt in Roseau. These people look like visitors. They do take chances. At least they can say they bathed there but when the water turned cold. Wouldn’t it be something if while bathing in it the water instantaneously turned hot? From now on I hope everyone, especially visitors, pay heed for their safety.
The boiling lake is beautiful to see and visit but dangerous. Even getting there is dangerous.
It is a strange phenomenon, from hot to cold and probably back to hot. It once dried up and filled up again with hot water.
When it is normal, it could boil an egg including your feet and hands if you dare place them in it or slip in it.
The boiling lake is made up of volcanic action. Who knows what is occurring underneath the water, on its bed and below. Let us hope it is nothing serious and will not evolve into something serious. If it continues I feel that some geologists will flock there.
Warning, Warning, Signs and the Area should be closed, with written signs errected as far as the junction of Valley Road and BathEstate, for would be visitors, planing to visit the area will be warned early, Strange things are happening.
thats a bit crazy. sometimes the water can just heat up again.
Is the white river still as white as normal?