• On 8 April 2021, seismic activity at La Soufrière Volcano changed significantly when the seismic station closest to the summit began recording low-level seismic tremors. The volcano entered a heightened period of activity indicative of a fresh batch of magma either near to or approaching the surface. The possibility for activity to move to an explosive phase increased significantly.

• On 8 April 2021, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves issued an immediate evacuation order for those persons living in the red zones and raised the alert level to red, indicating that an eruption is in progress or likely without warning. 

• On 9 April at 8:41 am an explosive eruption began at the La Soufrière Volcano in Saint. Vincent. This is a culmination of the seismic activity that began on April 8 and ash plumes of up to 20,000 feet are heading east. 1 Satellite imagery can be seen here.

• On 11 April, NEMO indicated that there were pyroclastic flows (pyroclast is a cloud of hot ash and rock) at La Soufrière Volcano and possible destruction and devastation of communities close to the volcano. The current activity pattern is similar to that of the 1902 eruption and implies that the eruptions will cause more damage and destruction.

• There has not been any significant seismic activity nor deformation since 22 April. 

• On 6 May, the Cabinet of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines formally decided to lower the alert level for the La Soufriere volcano from Red to Orange: https://www.loopnewscaribbean.com/content/st-vincent-cabinet-decides-lower-volcano-alert-level-orange. 

• At alert level orange, the volcano may resume explosions with less than twenty-four hours of notice. Lahars (mudflows) continue to pose a dangerous threat to the river valleys surrounding the volcano. 

• Access to the red volcanic hazard zone should be limited to government approved essential work only. Conditions remain hazardous and the potential for injury also remains. 

• The lowering of the alert level to orange, however, means that residents who evacuated from the yellow and orange volcanic hazard zones, including those staying at public emergency shelters, can now return to their communities to resume living in the comfort of their homes and continue their livelihood activities.

As of 6 May:

4,429 Number of people in public shelters

85 Public shelters 

0 Casualties

• The International Charter Space & Major Disasters has been activated and products are published at this link: https://disasterscharter.org/web/guest/activations/-/article/volcano-in-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines-activation-703- 

• The ReliefWeb page for this emergency with the latest sitreps, maps, etc. is available at this link: https://reliefweb.int/disaster/vo-2020-000244-vct

• The HR.info page for this emergency with the 3W is available at this link: https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/saint-vincent-and-grenadines 

• The latest volcano monitoring updates from the University of West Indies Seismic Research Centre are posted at this link: http://uwiseismic.com/General.aspx?id=93 

• In response to a request for international assistance from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and in coordination with the UN Resident Coordinator, the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit has dispatched a team of 12 (including logistics support) to Kingstown to provide technical advice on geology (volcanology, lahar/mudflows, etc.), ash management (cleanup and disposal), environmental pollution (air, water, soil), ecology (with a focus on marine ecosystems) and green response (sustainability). The team members arrived between 21 and 24 April. The expected mission duration is three weeks.

• In response to a request for international assistance from Barbados, two additional experts were deployed to Bridgetown as a satellite/antenna of the larger team dispatched to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to support on environmental pollution (air and water) and overall environmental response.

• The mission focal point in Geneva is Margherita Fanchiotti, Focal Point for Response, UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (email: fanchiotti@un.org; mobile: +41 76 691 08 59). 

1. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. On 12 April 2021, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines issued a letter of acceptance of offer of humanitarian assistance from the UN System to the UN Resident Coordinator, which was disseminated on 13 April. In the letter, the government welcomes the support extended so far by agencies such as FAO, WHO/PAHO, UNICEF and WFP, in collaboration with CDEMA. It also requests the UN's initiation of a funding appeal, with identified urgent and immediate needs in the areas of WASH, food security and livelihoods, health, logistics, shelter and education, as well as  early recovery. The government further welcomes additional support on needs and damage assessments and coordination of relief efforts. 
2. Barbados. On 14 April 2021, the Minister in Economic Affairs and Investment of Barbados requested UN assistance on ash cleanup, environmental health and technical experts to join national loss, damage and needs assessment efforts.