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A University of the West Indies research team's assessment of the Piparo Mud Volcano has not only found that the geological feature is very active, but that the risk of further eruptions and surface deformation at the main vent and surrounding areas is high. The findings have left the team calling for urgent funding to enhance its ability to monitor the volcano.

The team was led by Professor of Geomechanics and Geophysics Prof Oshaine Blake and PhD Geoscience candidate Kerneese Ramjarrie, and also comprised Dr Lorraine Sobers, Dr Kailas Banerjee, Dr Dexter Davis, and Dr Ryan Ramsook.

They visited the site on December 24 after gases and large chunks of mud began spewing out of the volcano's vent, causing earth movement that damaged nearby houses, disrupted water and electricity supply to some residents and collapsed sections of some surrounding roads. They also revisited the site on December 27 to conduct further assessments and issued a report to residents on December 28.