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Volcano erupts on Caribbean s St. Vincent as thousands flee danger zone
Updated on: April 9, 2021 / 7:11 PM / CBS/AP Thousands evacuate as Caribbean volcano erupts
An explosive eruption rocked La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent on Friday after the government ordered thousands to evacuate their homes nearby. Experts said the ash column rose more than 20,000 feet high and that the majority of the ash was headed northeast into the Atlantic Ocean.
However, heavy ashfall also was reported in communities around the volcano and beyond with authorities saying some evacuations were limited by poor visibility.
Several flights also were canceled and islands including Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada prepared for light ashfall as the 4,003-foot volcano continued to rumble. Authorities reported a second, smaller explosion on Friday afternoon.
PM Gonsalves spoke of a substantial prospect of disaster.
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves Thursday ordered the evacuation of several towns as a precaution in view of threatening activity at the La Soufriere volcano.
Inhabitants of Dickson, Georgetown, Walliabou, Richmond, Morne Rond, Fancy, Owia, Point, Sandy Bay, London, Magnum, Orange Hill, Tourama, Overland, Rabacca and Langley Park were ferried to safer locations as the La Soufriere volcano on the northern part of the island likely to erupt, according to emergency officials have warned.
I have issued an evacuation order to all residents living in the red zones on the Northeast and Northwest of the island, Gonsalves said on Twitter. “All residents are asked to act accordingly with immediate effect to ensure their safety and that of their families,” he added. The volcano is situated 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) from the island s capital, Kingstown.
The East Indian Community in St Vincent
Left to Right: JUNIOR BACCHUS, CHERYL RODRIGUEZ & LENROY THOMAS Social Share By Dr Kumar Mahabir
ST. VINCENT in the Caribbean has a population of approximately 111,000 persons, consisting mainly of persons of African descent. There are small numbers of mixed persons of Carib and African origin, Europeans and East Indians (called Indians).
Indians form about 6,660 persons (or 6%) of the total population. Although Indians in St. Vincent are scattered in several villages, there are distinct areas where they are concentrated, namely Richland Park, Calder and Rosebank as well as Akers, Georgetown, Park Hill and Orange Hill.
Vincentians ordered evacuated as activity at La Soufriere volcano intensifies jamaicaobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jamaicaobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.