Explosive eruption at St Vincent volcano sparks evacuation ‘frenzy’
- The eruption column reached about 10km high, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre said, warning more eruptions could occur
- Thousands are being evacuated from the red zone, and depending on the extent of the damage, it could be four months before they can return
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 neighbouring area into near total darkness, blotting out the bright morning sun, said a witness, who reported hearing the explosion from Rose Hall, a nearby village.
Smaller explosions continued throughout the day, said Erouscilla Joseph, director at the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, adding that this kind of activity could go on for weeks if not months. “This is just the beginning,” she said.
St Vincent and the Grenadines, which has a population of just over 100,000, has not experienced volcanic activity since 1979. An eruption by La Soufriere in 1902 killed more than 1,000 people. The name means “sulphur outlet” in French.
The eruption column was estimated to reach 10km (6.2 miles) high, the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre said, warning other explosive eruptions could occur. Ash fall could affect the Grenadines, Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada.
“The ash plume may cause flight delays due to diversions,” the centre said on Twitter. “On the ground, ash can cause discomfort in persons suffering with respiratory illnesses and will impact water resources.”
Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s foreign minister, called Gonsalves to offer aid, his ministry said. St. Vincent is one of only 15 countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.