Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Centre, said the ash column is estimated to have risen as high as 10 kilometres.
Pic Courtesy/The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre
An explosive eruption rocked La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent on Friday following mandatory evacuation orders from the local government. Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Centre, said the ash column is estimated to have risen as high as 10 kilometres.
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“There is heavy ashfall in the near vicinity,” she said. “More explosions could occur.” Joseph said it was impossible to predict whether any potential upcoming explosions would be bigger or smaller than the first one. The volcano last erupted in 1979, and a previous eruption in 1902 killed some 1,600 people.
The new eruption followed mandatory evacuation orders for people who live near the volcano. Officials planned to place them aboard cruise ships, send them to nearby islands or take them to shelters elsewhere in St. Vincent that are outside the danger zone.
The pandemic could hamper evacuation efforts. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that people have to be vaccinated if they go aboard a cruise ship or are granted temporary refuge in another island.
16k
No of people who live in the red zone and will need to be evacuated
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