By Demion McTair. Updated 4:32 p.m., Friday, April 9, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Islands close to St. Vincent and the Grenadines are being cautioned about the impact of volcanic ash from St. Vincent’s erupting La Soufriere volcano.
In a release issued on Friday, the Seismic Research Center at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus the Center said it’s scientific team “has cautioned that neighbouring islands and regional aviation interests can also be expected to be impacted by volcanic ash”.
“The volcanic ash poses a significant threat to flight safety,” the Center said
LIAT announced Friday afternoon, its suspension of all services to St. Vincent, as the country closed its airspace.
La Soufriere, which was erupting effusively since December 27, 2020, erupted explosively on April 9, 2021, after a series of Volcano Tectonic (VT) earthquakes in March and April 2021.
The volcano erupted explosively at around 8:41 a.m. on Friday and then produced a larger explosion Friday afternoon, sending an ash plume into the that could be seen everywhere on the island.
“It is estimated that
phases of explosive eruption are likely to continue for days and possibly weeks,” the Seismic Research Center said.
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said Friday at an emergency press conference that thousands have evacuated the Red Zones are hundreds are in government-operated shelters.
Meanwhile, areas in the northern parts of St. Vincent have experienced severe ash fall and volcanic rock particles falling.
Up to press time, there were no reports of injuries or death.
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