The Piparo Mud Volcano is showing worrying signs of heightened activity, with mud and gas spurting from widening vents, fissures appearing around the main vent, and land buckling along the main road into the village.
Researchers from the University of the West Indies (UWI) have been monitoring the volcano and report that the system is evolving. During a meeting with villagers on May 24, Prof. Oshaine Blake and PhD candidate Kerneese Ramjarrie of UWI’s Geoscience Programme shared preliminary data indicating increased activity, stressing the need for vigilance and preparedness.
“This data shows the system is evolving,” Ramjarrie told the Express. “While it is not an immediate cause for concern, it highlights the importance of involving relevant agencies and keeping residents informed.”
The volcano has a history of destructive eruptions. The most significant occurred on February 22, 1997, when mud spewed as high as 200 feet into the air, destroying homes, killing livestock, and displacing around 300 residents. The main road into the village was buried, forcing the development of an alternative route and the relocation of some residents to state housing in Princes Town.
Previous assessments, including those conducted in 2019 by geoscientist Xavier Moonan, warned of leaning vents, collapsing sections, and the presence of flammable gases emanating from fissures. Moonan’s report highlighted the increasing instability of the volcano and surrounding areas, suggesting that a major eruption is only a matter of time.
Henry Awong, vice chairman of the Couva Tabaquite Talparo Regional Corporation, confirmed that the disaster management unit has been dispatched to monitor the situation and assist residents as needed.
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