A volcanic eruption rocked the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent on Friday for the first time in more than 40 years – which according to reports evacuated thousands of people.
According to the local emergency management agency, the La Soufrière volcano, which has been confirmed by the seismological research center at the University of the West Indies.
Heavy as distributed in communities around the volcano and east in the Atlantic Ocean, said Erouscilla Joseph, the university’s director of the University’s Seismic Center.
The volcano last erupted in 1979, and a previous eruption in 1902 killed about 1,600 people.
There were no immediate reports of casualties on Friday.
“More explosions could occur,” Joseph said, adding that it was impossible to predict whether any future explosions would be larger or smaller than the first.
The eruption follows mandatory evacuation orders for people living near the volcano.
Officials planned to place them aboard cruise ships, send them to nearby islands or take refuge elsewhere in St. Louis. Vincent to take what is outside the danger zone.
About 16,000 people living in the red zone must be evacuated in efforts that could be hampered by the coronavirus pandemic, Joseph said.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has told reporters that people should be vaccinated if they board a cruise ship or take temporary refuge in another island.
He said two Royal Caribbean ships and two carnival ships are expected to arrive by Friday.
Islands that said they would accept evacuees include St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua.
“Not everything is going to go perfectly, but if we all work together … we will come through stronger than ever before,” said Gonsalves, who recommended that people who decide to seek refuge in St. Louis Vincent and the Grenadines, an island chain of lakes. if 100,000 people are vaccinated.
Emergency workers went out to communities in the red zone and provided transportation to safer places, Joseph said.
“They know who did not transport, because all these things have been put in before,” she said.
With an eruption imminent late Thursday, shelters were filling up as a string of car lights moved to safer ground.
John Renton, a principal in charge of one shelter, said they had enough masks and other personal protective equipment but needed more cots.
While talking, he was interrupted by a call from a government official asking about the preparations.
“We’re too high,” he replied, adding that the shelter could accommodate 75 people and that it was already full.
Scientists have warned the government of a possible eruption after they spotted seismic activity at 3am on Thursday indicating that “magma was moving near the surface,” Joseph said.
“Things are increasing fast,” she said of the volcanic activity.
The eastern Caribbean Islands are home to other active volcanoes.
Seventeen of the 19 living volcanoes in the region are located on 11 islands, with the remaining two underwater near the island of Grenada, including one called Kick ‘Em Jenny which has been active for the past year.
The most active volcano in the region was Soufriere Hills in Montserrat, which erupted continuously since 1995, killing at least 19 people in 1997.
With Post threads