La Soufrière volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to erupt, The Associated Press reports. The volcano erupted Friday morning for the first time since 1979 after months of activity. According to The AP, La Soufrière “fired an enormous amount of ash and hot gas early Monday in the biggest explosive eruption yet.” Locals were ordered to evacuate last week by the country’s prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves; however, some residents refused to leave.
Roughly 16,000 people who live in communities close to the volcano have already been evacuated. Government officials are reportedly worried about the lives of those who remained, although there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. NPR reports that there is evidence of pyroclastic flows, “an avalanche of super-heated gas and debris” traveling at more than 120 mph along the volcano’s mountainside.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Emergency Management Organization posted on Twitter at 9:10 a.m. Monday that “The volcano continues to erupt explosively and has now begun to generate pyroclastic density currents. Explosions and accompanying ashfall, of similar or larger magnitude, are likely to continue to occur over the next few days.”
The AP additionally reports that the volcanic activity has threatened water and food supplies, forcing the government to drill for fresh water and distribute it via trucks. Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel told NBC Radio that there was extensive damage to St. Vincent’s northeast region, where the volcano is located, and that forests and farms containing coconut, breadfruit, mango, soursop, plantain and banana crops.
Gonsalves, according to The AP, said it could take four months for life to go back to normal on the island. Other Caribbean islands are being affected, as well: NPR reports that winds have carried ash all the way to Barbados, about 120 miles east, which could last for weeks.
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