The eruption took place a little after 4 o’clock Monday night local time, the authorities say Facebook. It must have been the strongest so far since the volcano came to life before the weekend.
A powerful explosion shook the area, and down from the volcano came pyroclastic currents – hot gases and particles at high speed.
“This destroys everything in its path,” said Erouscilla Joseph, director of the Seismological Research Center at the University of the West Indies.
Order to evacuate
Joseph compares the explosive eruption to one that took place in 1902. It killed 1,600 people.
As of Monday, there have been no reports of fatalities or injuries. But the authorities do not yet have an overview of the situation.
About 16,000 people in the area by the volcano were ordered to evacuate last week. However, an unknown number have refused to leave their homes.
New crater
Richard Robertson, who also works at the seismological research center, says two so-called lava domes were destroyed in the eruption Monday night. At the same time, a new crater was formed.
Robertson also points out that the pyroclastic currents can do great damage.
– Everything that was possibly there – people, animals, whatever – it is gone now, he says.
Norwegians without electricity and water
The eruptions from the volcano La Soufriere began before the weekend. Large areas of the island have been covered in ash, and many residents were without electricity and water on Sunday.
Drinking water sources have been contaminated with ash, and the authorities have instead tried to drill for water and bring it out to the population by truck.
– It’s boring to be without electricity, but it works. It is worse with water, said the Norwegian Thor Magnus Lie on the phone to NTB on Sunday. He lives in St. Vincent with his wife Monica.
– It is gray and ash everywhere. It is not very good visibility to put it that way, Monica Lie said.
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