ASH -FALL FROM VOLCANO COULD REACH ANTIGUA & BARBUDA BY THIS AFTERNOON

The MET Office is alerting the public that emissions from the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent could reach Antigua and Barbuda, possibly between Tuesday afternoon, April 13, and tomorrow morning, April 14.
 
The likelihood of ash-fall reaching here is based on a shift in the wind direction. Ash has already impacted neighbouring islands, including St. Lucia and, particularly, Barbados.
 
Ash-fall will have some impact on the air quality here and diminish it significantly, MET officials say.
 
The sulfur dioxide that is emitted from the volcano may cause health issues in very sensitive persons, including those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, they warn.
 
Therefore, the Director of the National Office of Disaster Services, Philmore Mullin, is advising that small children and the elderly be kept indoors.
  
Mullin says there are simple ways for persons to detect whether ash is falling. He explains two of these and offers suggestions on how persons can protect themselves.