Undersea Volcano Called Kick ‘Em Jenny Rumbling Off Grenada, Poses No Threat To Territory

NOAA’s National Tsunami Warning Center at Alaska and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at Hawaii are continuously monitoring seismic activity and tide gauges near the Kick’ Em Jenny volcano, an underwater volcano located approximately 5 miles north of Grenada.

According to the warning centers, the volcano currently poses no imminent threat to the US Virgin Islands, a press release issued by the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA) has made known.

“There is no imminent threat from the volcano in terms of tsunami generation for the US Virgin Islands,” said Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, Manager of the NOAA-NWS Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program at Puerto Rico, during a conference call with VITEMA Director Mona Barnes. “This volcano is quite a ways below water and it would take quite a powerful eruption for it to generate a tsunami.”

Since its discovery in the 1930s, Kick ’em Jenny has erupted beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea at least 12 times, most recently in 2001, according to the Associated Press. The underwater volcano, which rises some 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) above the seafloor on a steep slope of the Lesser Antilles ridge, hasn’t caused any deaths or injuries.

VITEMA says if there is a threat to the territory, the tsunami warning centers are prepared to immediately make contact with VITEMA’s 911 emergency ccommunications centers, according to Hillebrandt-Andrade.

“At this time, there is no need for panic. There is no threat of a tsunami,” Barnes went on. “But we are asking the public to monitor news reports about Kick’ Em Jenny volcanic activity.”

Barnes added that VITEMA will remain in close contact with NOAA officials and that the agency is also continuously monitoring reports of Kick ‘Em Jenny volcanic activity.

Kick ‘Em Jenny Volcano

On Thursday, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (SRC) reported that from 1:25 am to 3 am, a strong continuous signal was observed on instruments monitoring the Kick ‘Em Jenny submarine volcano. According to the center, Signs of elevated seismicity (earthquakes) began on July 11 and has continued throughout the day today. There have also been observations from divers of degassing occurring off the west coast of Grenada in the Moliniere Sculpture Park area.

VITEMA says it will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Feature Image: Kick ‘Em Jenny volcano in Grenada.