Cruise Ships Evacuating Up to 16,000 Residents as St. Vincent Volcano Erupts
April 9, 2021 ctn_admin
Some 16,000 residents of the Caribbean island of St. Vincent have been evacuated as a long-dormant volcano erupts.
La Soufriere volcano, which had been dormant for decades, blew smoke and ash some 20,000 feet into the air on Friday as lava spilled down its green slopes.
La Soufrière, on the main island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, last erupted in 1979.
The New York Times reports there were no immediate reports of casualties from the eruption, and the extent of any damage in the surrounding area was unclear.
The Times said video clips shot in Chateaubelair, a town on the foothills of the volcano, showed the sky darkened by ash as evacuees wearing face masks trudged through the streets lugging their belongings. Other clips posted on social media showed homes and streets blanketed in grayish white ash, the paper said.
St. Vincent is part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a lovely chain of islands in the eastern Caribbean. The island of St. Vincent proper is famous for its jungle waterfalls and lush mountains. A good deal of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie was shot on the coast at Wallilabou, which is about15 kilometres from the volcano. The Grenadines are famous for their sailing conditions and remarkable beaches. Bequia is a wonderful, sleepy island with a couple of great resorts, while Mayreau is home to Saltwhistle Bay; one of the loveliest beaches in the Caribbean.
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