ANI
10 Apr 2021, 04:48 GMT+10
Kingstown [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines], April 10 (ANI): A volcano in the southern Caribbean that had been dormant for decades erupted in a billowing blast of grey smoke Friday, spewing clouds of ash for miles and forcing thousands to evacuate.
As per The New York Times, the volcano, known as La Soufriere, on the northern tip of the main island of St. Vincent, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, had started showing signs of renewed activity in late December.
It moved into an "explosive state" on Friday morning, the National Emergency Management Organization said in a Tweet.
"It was a very, very loud bang," said Shaquille Hadaway Williams, a resident describing the erruption and added: You never see something like this."NYT reported that the country's emergency management agency said the ashfall had been registered as far as the country's international airport on the southern part of the island -- more than 12 miles away -- while an ash plume had billowed 20,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean.
The morning eruption was followed about six hours later by a "second explosive eruption" that was not as extensive, the agency said.
The country's prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves, ordered a full evacuation of the area.
"I have issued an evacuation order to all residents living in the RED ZONES on the North East and the North West of the island. All residents are asked to act accordingly with immediate effect to ensure their safety and that of their families," Gonsalves wrote on his Twitter page on late Thursday according to Sputnik.
The prime minister stressed that the decree on the evacuation would be published on Friday, but the relocation of residents will start immediately.
The prime minister stressed that the decree on the evacuation would be published on Friday, but the relocation of residents will start immediately.
As of Friday morning, close to 20,000 people had been evacuated from the area surrounding the volcano, according to officials. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump's choice to lead NASA, Jared Isaacman, has told lawmakers that sending astronauts back...
FRANKFORT/JACKSON: It is been about 45 years since a U.S. state last got rid of its income tax on wages and salaries. But now, Mississippi...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: As artificial intelligence drives soaring demand for data processing, electric utilities across the United...
FRANKFORT, Kentucky: Heavy rain over several days caused rivers to overflow across Kentucky, flooding homes and threatening a famous...
KYIV, Ukraine: Talks between Ukraine and the United States over a critical minerals agreement are set to continue this week, as officials...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) won U.S. military contracts worth US$13.5...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Debate over Ireland's military neutrality is intensifying as the government faces growing pressure to put the issue...
ATHENS, Greece: As Europe braces for the economic fallout of new U.S. tariffs, a top eurozone official has warned the consequences...
KYIV, Ukraine: Talks between Ukraine and the United States over a critical minerals agreement are set to continue this week, as officials...
DUBLIN, Ireland: A major legal battle over corporate taxation has helped Ireland post a record surplus, with the final decision in...
DUBLIN, Ireland: As tensions rise following the imposition of sweeping U.S. tariffs, Ireland's deputy leader, Tanaiste Simon Harris...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Despite recent policy efforts, a major gender gap remains when it comes to taking time off to care for children. A...