‘Explosive’ volcanic eruption in Caribbean island sparks mass evacuation

According to details, the first signs of volcanic activity were witnessed in December, but that increased this week. Following the activity, the sky was covered with ash and smoke.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves ordered evacuation of more than 16,000 residents in "red zones". As per St Vincent's National Emergency Management Organisation (Nemo), the volcano has spewed an approximate of 6 km (3.7 miles) dark into the air which has been recorded as far from the volcano as Argyle International Airport some 20 km away.

The first sign of an eruption was witnessed on Thursday evening, when a lava dome poured out of the volcano and it was clearly visible on La Soufrière. The same night premier ordered an evacuation of people and they were taken to cruise ships and safer parts of the island.

One eyewitness said that he saw "a huge ball of smoke” and knew something was wrong.

“There was panic when people were first ordered to evacuate. I can feel and hear rumbling here in the green safe zone... keeping calm as much as possible and praying," he added.

Another volunteer involved in evacuation activities told AFP that people are still being evacuated from the red zone. “Some evacuation procedures were hindered by the heavy ash fall, which had made visibility extremely poor", Nemo said.

In the Eastern Caribbean, most of the Lesser Antilles islands are part of a long volcanic arc. The last eruption was recorded in 1979 and resulted in causing more than $100m (£73m) of damage on the island.

In 1902, the Caribbean recorded the worst volcanic eruption which left more than 1,000 people.