April 9, 2021
Vincentians began a mandatory mass evacuation from the north of the island late Thursday as they brace for an imminent explosion of the La Soufrière volcano with neighbouring Prime Minister Mia Mottley pledging Barbados’ support and mobilising humanitarian resources.
Cruise ships berthed at Bridgetown, 159 kilometres (99 miles) to the east, have been pressed into action with one already steaming towards the island, as volcanologists warn that the volcano could blow within the next day or two, while memories of misery and the rain of ash return from a 42-year slumber.
Vehicles snaked bumper to bumper along the Windward Highway as night fell, as thousands streamed out of the Red Zone that accounts for roughly a third of the mainland.
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ROSE HALL, St Vincent and the Grenadines (Reuters) -La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent erupted on Friday after decades of inactivity, sending dark plumes of ash and smoke billowing into the sky and forcing thousands from surrounding villages to evacuate.
Dormant since 1979, the volcano started showing signs of activity in December, spewing steam and smoke and rumbling away. That picked up this week, prompting Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves to order an evacuation of the surrounding area late on Thursday.
Early on Friday it finally erupted. Ash and smoke plunged the neighboring area into near total darkness, blotting out the bright morning sun, said a Reuters witness, who reported hearing the explosion from Rose Hall, a nearby village.
Volcano erupts on Caribbean island, sending ash 20,000 feet into the air
8 hours 7 minutes 1 second ago
Friday, April 09 2021
Apr 9, 2021
April 09, 2021 11:40 AM
April 09, 2021
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Source: CNN
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KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent - A volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean erupted Friday morning, sending ash plumes 20,000 feet into the air, CNN reports.
The volcano, La Soufrière, is located on the largest island of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines chain, the country s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said.
At 8:41 am this morning 9-4-21 an explosive eruption began at La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent. This is a culmination of the seismic activity that began on April 8. The eruption is ongoing and more information will be shared as things progress. #lasoufriere#uwi#volcano#svgpic.twitter.com/C2zWrjPcpP
Persons in south of St Vincent are safe and likely only to experience ash falls
Professor Richard Robertson Social Share
Residents of the southern half of St Vincent and those who have evacuated out of the danger zones are safe and expected to mainly be affected by ash falls from the erupting La Soufriere. However, those who remain close to the volcano are endangering their lives.
Lead scientist monitoring the volcano, Professor Richard Robertson of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC) gave this assurance today, while addressing a press conference, shortly after explosive eruptions began at La Soufriere.
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