by Linda Straker
Increased activities are taking place at Kick ’em Jenny, the region’s only submarine volcano which is located between Grenada and the Grenadine island of Carriacou. It is located 8km north of Grenada (12.18°N, 61.38°W).
A news release issued by Grenada’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in the early hours on Sunday, 30 April 2017, said that it was advised of the increased activities by the Seismic Research Centre (SRC), University of the West Indies (UWI).
“The UWI/SRC recorded a high amplitude signal, lasting about 25 seconds, on one of the Grenada stations. The signal was also recorded on a station in Montserrat. This signal follows an increase in the number of background events associated with the Kick-’em-Jenny volcano,” said the release which confirmed that persons in the St Patrick area have reported feeling the quake.
The alert level is now on yellow, and as a result, sea users and ships using the area are mandated to stay away from the area. “In light of the ongoing we are advising all sea users that the 5km (3.1 miles) exclusion zone of Kick ’em Jenny be strictly observed. The SRC has advised that heightened alert is necessary for the exclusion zone,” the release added.
An explanation of the UWI Seismic site said that the yellow alert means the volcano is restless; seismicity and/or fumarolic activity are above the historical level or other unusual activity has been observed or can be expected without warning.