The volcano La Soufrière on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent launched a series of explosions on April 9, causing clouds of about 20,000 meters to rise into the air, covering much of the island with ash and causing water and electricity outages.
The latest and largest eruption to date took place early on Monday 12 April when the volcano sent deadly clouds of hot gas, ash and rocks down the mountain slopes, according to Richard Robertson, professor of geology at the University of West Indies Seismic Research. Centre.
“I suspect that the buildings and structures on the mountain will be destroyed, damaged, crushed,” he said. Robertson in an online interview with Ralph Gonsalves, premier of St. Vincent, said. ‘I shudder to think that there were living creatures on that mountain. Because everything that was there, human, animal, anything … they are gone. ‘
So far there have been no reports of deaths or injuries. Some 16,000 residents near the volcano were evacuated a day before the eruption began, as scientists became concerned about the growing activity on the volcano, which killed an estimated 1,600 people during a violent eruption in 1902. However, according to island officials, an unknown number of residents do not want to be relocated.
The explosions at the 3,864-foot volcano can last for days or weeks, according to the UWI Seismic Research Center.