Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) Ms. Michelle Forbes, during a call to WEFM this morning discussed the extent of the danger persons can find themselves in, if they were to visit La Soufriere while it is in the process of an effusive eruption.
“It’s really dangerous because there are different things that are happening; I know you have heard Dr. Christoper speak about the gases. You cannot see the gases, you may smell the hydrogen sulfide and the sulphur dioxide but you cannot see the carbon dioxide in particular which is colourless and you may not know the volume that you have in and around the volcano because that comes from deep in the earth, and if you inhale too much of that and you are too close to the volcano and you inhale all of that, it can knock you out.” The Director said.
Miss Forbes also warned that some of the gases being emitted from the volcano are acidic and can result in burns and other effects.
She reiterated that the volcano is currently erupting and that although it might not be explosive at the moment, it should not be taken lightly in its effusive state.
