The volcano La Soufrière on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent broke out Friday after authorities ordered the mandatory emergency evacuations of thousands.
The country’s national emergency management organization on Friday doubted as plumes of exploding eruption rose 20,000 feet and were facing east.
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“Please leave the red zone immediately,” the residents requested immediately following the event. “La Soufriere broke out. Asphalt all the way to Argyle International Airport.”
The University of the West Indies (UWI) seismic research center wrote in their own report that the explosive eruption occurred at 08:41 AST.
“Ash began to fall on the flanks of the volcano and surrounding communities, including Chateaubelair and Petite Brothel. Some went abroad and even reached the Observatory,” they write along with a set of photos showing the ash plumes.
Officials tweeted that the dome of the volcano can be seen in the northern region of the island overnight.
The Associated Press reported Friday that the UWI Seismic Research Center said more explosions could follow.
On Thursday, they said about 16,000 residents live in the “red zone” and that they are aboard cruise ships, to nearby islands or elsewhere in St. Louis. Vincent must be protected outside the red zone.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, hampered efforts, and the prime minister of St. Vincent Ralph Gonsalves told reporters at a news conference that those seeking refuge on board a cruise ship or other island should be vaccinated.
He also said he had talked to the Caribbean governments to accept people’s ID cards if they did not have a passport. The islands of St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua said they would accept evacuees.
“It’s an emergency, and everyone understands it,” Gonsalves said, adding that those who prefer to seek refuge in the island chain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to go, also vaccinated.
“I do not want you to panic,” he ordered. “That’s the worst thing to do.”
Two Royal Caribbean cruise ships and two Carnival cruise ships are expected to arrive by Friday, and emergency management teams have provided transportation to safer locations, including predetermined shelters.
In an email, Carnival told Fox News on Friday that its ships would arrive Friday afternoon and that each ship would house up to 1,500 residents who will be taken to neighboring islands.
“All precautions will be taken to protect the health and safety of the Carnival crew and the passengers on board,” they assured.
This comes after days of seismic activity recorded in the area and after the volcano erupted in late December.
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An eruptive eruption is dominated by the eruption of lava on the ground, while explosive eruptions are characterized by violent fragmentation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The volcano last erupted 42 years ago, killing about 1,600 people in a 1902 eruption.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.