Grenada increases alert level as underwater volcano activity mounts

The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) in Grenada, on Monday said it had raised the alert level for the underwater volcano, ‘Kick ‘em Jenny’ from yellow to orange “due to increased activities.”

NaDMA said that it had been working with the Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) in monitoring the situation and “with this increase in the alert level, ships and other marine operators are asked to observe the exclusion zone of 5 km/3.1miles.”

“NaDMA in collaboration with the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center will continue to monitor the activities of ‘Kick em’ Jenny’ and will update the public as necessary, the statement noted.

In May last year, NaDMA warned Grenadians that they should expect more eruptions of the underwater volcano, noting that volcanic episodes at ‘Kick em’ Jenny’, since 1939, usually consist of several eruptions lasting over several days before returning to repose.

NaDMA said it would be useful for those in coastal areas to be on the lookout for unusual material that might be ejected from the eruption.