PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
THE SEISMIC Research Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) says there are no signs of an impending eruption of the underwater volcano in Grenada.
The unit said it had been receiving "several enquiries regarding a supposedly impending earthquake and subsequent tsunami to affect Trinidad" and that there were "additional concerns as to the current
status of the Kick 'em Jenny submarine volcano in Grenada".
The unit said that "the potential for tsunamis from the volcano has also been raised".
It said that its records "do not indicate any elevated activity of the Kick 'em Jenny volcano situated
nine kilometres, north of Grenada.
NO ALERT
"The alert level for the volcano is at yellow, which is usual for this volcano. There are no signs of an impending eruption, or consequent tsunami from an eruption, in the near future," the unit said.
Regarding any possible earthquake hitting Trinidad, the unit said that the oil-rich island lies "in an area of high seismic activity for the Caribbean and as such citizens should know what to do before, during and after an earthquake".
"Scientists are currently unable to predict earthquakes and so we cannot say whether or not an earthquake with the potential to cause a tsunami will affect Trinidad in the near future. The last earthquake of note to affect Trinidad was of magnitude 4.1, which occurred on December 1, 2005," it added.
Following the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, the Seismic Research Unit and other regional agencies have been involved in a regional effort to establish a tsunami warning system.
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), through its IOCARIBE Sub-Commission, is coordinating this effort.
