The volcano La Soufrière has fired an enormous amount of ash and hot gas into the biggest explosive eruption since volcanic activity began late last week on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent.
Experts call it a ‘huge explosion’ that generated in the early morning hours of the volcano in the south and southwest of the volcano.
“It destroys everything in its path,” said Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Center. “Anyone who has not complied with the evacuation must get out immediately.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, but government officials were responding to the latest eruption, which was larger than the first eruption that occurred Friday morning.
About 16,000 people living in communities near the volcano were evacuated on Thursday under government orders, but an unknown number remained behind and refused to move.
Richard Robertson, of the Seismic Research Center, told local NBC Radio that the volcano’s old and new dome had been destroyed and a new crater had been created. He said the pyroclastic flow would magnify everything in their path.
“Everything that was there – human, animal, anything – they are gone,” he said. “And it’s a terrible thing to say.”
Joseph said the latest explosion is equivalent to one that occurred in 1902 and killed about 1,600 people. The volcano erupted earlier in 1979. As of the latest explosions on Barbados and other nearby islands.
The volcanic activity threatened water and food supplies, and the government was forced to drill for fresh water and distribute it via trucks.
“We can not sail across a river,” said Garth Saunders, the island’s water and sewerage minister, referring to the impossibility of trying to protect current water sources from ash.
He told NBC Radio that officials were trying to set up water distribution points.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said government officials were meeting Monday afternoon to discuss food supply problems.
Cradles, tents, water tanks and other basic supplies flowed to St Vincent when lands in the area rushed to help those affected by the eruptions.
At least four empty cruise ships were waiting nearby to take evacuated to other islands that had agreed to receive it temporarily, including Antigua and Grenada. All employees of the government’s seaport were asked to report to work.
Gonsalves told NBC Radio on Sunday that his government would do everything possible to help those forced to abandon their homes in ash-filled communities.
“This is a major operation we are facing,” he said. “It’s going to be expensive, but I do not want us to pinch a penny … it’s going to be a long time.”
Gonsalves said it could take four months before life returns to normal in St Vincent, part of an archipelago that includes the Grenadines. The majority of the 100,000 residents live in St Vincent.
The Covid pandemic has also complicated response efforts. At least 14 new cases have been reported since the eruptions began Friday, and all who go to shelters are being tested. Those who test positive are taken to isolation centers. More than 3,700 people are in 84 government shelters.
The eastern Caribbean Islands have 19 living volcanoes, of which 17 are on 11 islands. The remaining two are underwater near Grenada, including one named Kick ’em Jenny who has been active in recent years.
The most active volcano of all is Soufrière Hills in Montserrat, which has been erupting continuously since 1995, destroying the capital of Plymouth and killing at least 19 people in 1997.