This morning in the southern Caribbean, a decade-long dormant volcano erupted, sending ash and smoke hundreds of miles into the atmosphere.
In late December, the volcano known as La Soufrière on the northern tip of St. Vincent and the Grenadines‘ main island began to show signs of renewed activity. The National Emergency Management Organization said on Twitter that it had passed into an “explosive state” on Friday morning.
La Soufriere has moved into an explosive state. Plumes up to eight kilometers. Ash fall expected within five minutes#svgeruption2021#
— NEMO SVG (@NEMOSVG) April 9, 2021
Officials had increased the warning level the day before after many minor tremors were observed at the volcano, with clouds of steam seen erupting from its top. Ralph Gonsalves, the country’s prime minister, ordered a complete evacuation of the city.
On Thursday, Mr. Gonsalves said during a news conference that “All arrangements have now kick-started, and the process begins.”
He said, “I want to urge all our people to be calm — do not panic.” Adding that “With God’s grace, we will get through this very well.”
According to authorities, nearly 20,000 people had been evacuated from the area surrounding the volcano.
Some locals remembered La Soufrière’s most active eruption in 1979, which hurled rubble thousands of feet but resulted in no casualties due to a hastily organized evacuation of residents to nearby beaches. Its ash drifted as far east as Barbados. In 1902, nearly 1,700 people previously died in that eruption.
Mr. Gonsalves said in a January interview that government officials started conducting outreach last winter in areas nearest to the volcano, educating people on evacuation plans in the event of an eruption.
During evacuations and in shelters, the prime minister recognized the difficulties of performing emergency operations during the pandemic but said that stringent health precautions, such as the mandatory use of masks and social distancing where appropriate, will be in effect.
Prayers for our Caribbean brothers and sisters in #StVincent & Grenadines where #Soufriere Hills #volcano is rumbling & spewing.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/cMbZ1WtooT— Marcia Forbes (@marciaforbes) April 8, 2021
Woke up, heard rumbling, went outside &…
La Soufriere has gone explosive.
Photo taken at Belmont Observatory, St Vincent pic.twitter.com/OisogXSKI2
— TiVonne Howe (@tivonnehowe) April 9, 2021
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