This Christmas is not so merry for a family whose house was damaged by heightened activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano on Wednesday.
Reporter Danielle John and Cameraman Negel Alexander visited the area on Christmas Day to speak with affected residents.
Instead of being able to fully enjoy the Christmas season, one family in Piparo is living in fear of what could happen next.
This as heightened activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano on Wednesday destroyed part of their home just one day before Christmas. Resident, Keisha Badree said that her family’s Christmas was soured by the uncertainty surrounding the heightened activity. Ms. Badree said she has been living at this location for over 20 years, but has never witnessed an occurance like this before.
Nigel Mervyn said he has since been contemplating relocating, indicating that his family doesn’t know if the next eruption would be worse.
Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John visited the residents on Christmas morning, delivered hampers and told the residents she would contact them.
Another resident Ousman Mohammed said while his home was not affected, the impassable road is an inconvenience to him and other residents.
“Plenty of people use this road. Instead of going around the other road, they come out to the junction. They use this road in the morning and the whole night. The whole night this road is out of traffic because they have the empowerment center of Piparo Road and they have a home for children. So remember, you have doctor, nurses, security, guard, everybody going up here and they use this road.”
Mr. Mohammed said February 2026 will make it 25 years since he has witnessed increased activity from the mud volcano.