‘Higher than average’ Sarahan Dust surge in VI- DDM

Persons affected asked to take precautionary measures

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has alerted that the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) is experiencing another surge of the Saharan Dust and that this surge is higher than the average.

“Based on AQI (Air Quality Index) today’s reading is moderate to high,” DDM stated today, November 20, 2023.

DDM has asked that persons affected take precautionary measures. “We are asking persons who mostly engage in outdoor activities to be very careful.”

The quality index for today is 50 to 70 and has been classified as an Alert Level II.

Who is most at risk?

People most likely to experience health problems caused by exposure to Saharan dust include children and babies; older adults, and people with underlying lung conditions.