Zen Punnett / AFP via Getty Images
La Soufrière, the highest peak on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, began to explosively erupt Friday morning, forcing thousands to evacuate as ash and smoke filled the sky.
And a larger eruption may be on the way.
Richard Robertson, a geologist with the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, said the volcano is in its explosive eruption phase. The initial explosion of dust and debris St. Vincent experienced Friday is likely just the beginning. The explosive eruption has started and it is possible you could have more explosions like these, he said during a press conference. The first one is not necessarily the worst one, the first bang is not necessarily the biggest bang this volcano will give.
The La Soufrière volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent erupted a third time on Friday, according to officials.
The volcano continues to show periods of explosive activity, said Dr. Erouscilla Joseph, director of The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC).
Joseph reported the third explosion in an audio update issued Friday evening. She didn t provide additional details about the third explosion, but it appears it was smaller than the previous two. The center is working with local authorities to monitor the volcano s activity.
On Saturday morning, island residents woke up to extremely heavy ash fall and strong sulphur smells which have now advanced to the capital, according to a Twitter post from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).
La Soufriere Eruption: 16,000 Evacuated,Power Cuts and Ash Cover St Vincent, Massive Cloud Heads to Barbados thestkittsnevisobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thestkittsnevisobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Kingstown – The lead scientist monitoring the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano, Professor Richard Robertson is predicting that more damage from ash should be expected in coming days. Robertson was speaking on local radio on Sunday in the aftermath of reports that the roofs of several homes and other buildings in the red zone – the area for which evacuation has been ordered, have collapsed. He also said that …
Caribbean island blanketed in ash following biggest eruption since 1979, which has forced thousands to flee
Seismologists are reporting that lava has begun to flow down La Soufrière volcano. Photograph: UWI Seismic Research Centre/AFP/Getty Images
Seismologists are reporting that lava has begun to flow down La Soufrière volcano. Photograph: UWI Seismic Research Centre/AFP/Getty Images
Agencies
Sun 11 Apr 2021 14.33 EDT
Last modified on Sun 11 Apr 2021 16.40 EDT
A second âexplosive eventâ has been reported by authorities in Saint Vincent, leaving residents of the area around La Soufrière volcano facing power cuts and water outages.
Locals described loud rumbling, lightning and heavy ashfall as conditions deteriorated on the Caribbean island, after the volcano first erupted on Friday, forcing thousands to evacuate, though some remained in their homes.