Earthquake equipment stolen in Dominica

by Paul Charles

Sunday, March 28, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: The Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) made an urgent plea on Friday night for the return of a stolen seismograph amid concerns about volcanic activity in Dominica.

Dr Lennox Honychurch, a UWI's staff tutor based here, disclosed that the absence of the equipment would adversely affect the monitoring of one of the island's volcanoes. 

''There is increasing concern about Morne Aux Diables volcanic centre because there are tremors we cannot feel that this machine can feel.

''If that is not there it means that the information that they are getting is going to be less and therefore it is going to be more dangerous for the people themselves.'' 

Dr Honychurch, who is a historian, said this seismograph was added recently following increased tremors in the northern mountain range here.

The UWI official said it is crucial to the island's safety to have the equipment returned to its seismic station at Borne, a hamlet about two miles east of the second town of Portsmouth, which is 30 miles north of here. 

''It is crucial, it is of no use to anybody, I have been asked by the University of the West Indies in Trinidad at St Augustine to try and make an appeal to anyone,'' pleaded Dr Honychurch.

There are eight other seismographs, mostly in the south of the island, relaying data to the Seismic Unit at UWI in Trinidad. 

The unit has revealed an increase in volcanic activity in Dominica over the past few years but stressed that there are no signs of an immediate eruption. 

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