Volcanic ash from the La Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent is currently affecting the island of Barbados.
A thick plume of ash has already entered Barbados on Saturday with another thick ash cloud currently approaching the island according to a press release from the Government of Barbados. The conditions are expected to continue to affect Barbados with variations in intensity.
Several eruptions at the La Soufriere volcano with ash plumes up to 20,000 feet were confirmed by the St. Vincent’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) on April 9.
The National Conservation Commission in Barbados has advised that, “beaches are presently closed and will remain closed for the rest of today, Saturday, April 10, due to the present atmospheric conditions.”
“The public is also asked to note that beach facilities, public parks and the Oistins Bay Gardens facility in Christ Church will be closed as well.
Due to low visibility, lifeguard interventions will be hampered while the inhalation of volcanic ash will present health concerns, such as respiratory problems, eye problems, and possible skin irritation.
Meanwhile, the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) has deployed “a contingent as part of the Regional Security System’s (RSS) humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) mission to St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in the aftermath of the La Soufrière volcano eruption.”
Two offshore patrol vessels from the Barbados Coast Guard (BCG), HMBS RUDYARD LEWIS and LEONARD C BANFIELD departed Barbados Saturday afternoon to deliver over 7 tons of relief supplies from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Department of Emergency Management, CARICOM IMPACS and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force among other agency donors.
The supplies which is the first batch of relief mainly comprised drinking water, water testing kits and cots, according to BDF.
