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More eruptions likely as Caribbean volcano turns tropical paradise into ‘battlefield’

Another huge explosion rocked the island of Saint-Vincent early Monday as the Soufriere volcano continues to erupt. The volcano spat out a huge amount of ash and hot gases in the largest explosive eruption since volcanic activity began on the eastern Caribbean island late last week. Experts called it a “huge explosion” that generated pyroclastic flows along the southern and southwestern flanks of the volcano, destroying everything in its path. “Everything that was there, man, animal, whatever … They’re gone. And it’s terrible to say it,” said Richard Robertson, a geologist at the University of the West Indies Center for Seismic Research, said at LA NBC radio station. Erouscilla Joseph, director of the Center for Seismic Research at the University of the West Indies, told The Associated Press: “Anyone who ignored the evacuation must get out immediately.” Robertson says the old and new volcano dome have been destroyed and a new crater has been created. This satellite animation shows the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere during the eruption of the volcano over the last three days starting Monday, April 12, 2021. (NOAA / CIRA) Scientists are studying the eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano on The Caribbean island of St Vincent says the explosions could continue for days, if not weeks, and the worst may yet be yet to come. Robertson said in a press conference with the Prime Minister over the weekend: “The volcano is in its explosive eruption phase … Friday’s explosive eruption is probably just the beginning.” The April 9 explosion sent an ash plume shooting about 52,000 feet into the atmosphere and forced the evacuation of about 16,000 people. Thousands of people have gone to government-run shelters that test for COVID-19 and isolate anyone who tests positive. Cruise ships are also waiting near the island to evacuate residents, but people must be vaccinated before boarding a cruise ship, said Ralph Gonsalves, Premier of St. Vincent and -the Grenadines, at a press conference the next day. the rash. An ash cloud almost completely obscures the island of Saint-Vincent after the explosive eruption of the La Soufrière volcano on the morning of April 9, 2021. Image captured at 10:13 a.m. local time. pic.twitter.com/tHQGlWd4BZ— Planet (@planetlabs) April 10, 2021 No one has been killed or injured. Before the volcano exploded, the government ordered people to evacuate the most risky area around the 4,003-foot (1,220-meter) volcano after scientists warned the magma was moving near the surface . The volcano had been dormant since 1979, but it began to rumble and release smoke and steam towards the end of 2020 and is now compared to the worst eruption in St. Vincent’s history in 1902, when 1600 people were killed. Very early on Sunday morning, the National Emergency Management Organization of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (NEMO SVG) said on Twitter that a “massive blackout” was underway following another “explosive event” of the volcano, but the authorities had restored electricity to most of the island by late afternoon. The UWI Seismic Research Center says they are not lava flows but pyroclastic flows which are “moving mixtures of ash, rock fragments” and gas. This dangerous mixture can descend volcanoes at speeds of up to 120 km / h and can cause utter devastation. “These streams are really masses of destruction in motion,” said Robertson. “They just destroy everything in its path. Even if you have the strongest house in the world, they’ll just bulldozer it.” The National Emergency Management Organization of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines called the scene a “combat zone”. Images taken by UWI’s Seismic Research Center show gray scenes that resemble images of the moon, not a tropical island generally considered a vacation paradise. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said water supplies to most of the island had been cut off and its airspace was closed due to smoke and thick plumes of volcanic ash moving through the atmosphere . CLICK HERE FOR FREE ACCUWEATHER APP “Agriculture will be badly affected, and we might have some animal losses, and we will have to fix houses. But if we have life and we have the strength – we will build it back better, stronger, together, “he says. Smoke erupted from the luminous dome of the La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, April 8, 2021 (right), and the resulting eruption (at left) Friday April 9, 2021 (Photos / UWI Seismic Research Center) The Barbados Defense Force has deployed to St. Vincent to provide humanitarian assistance as part of a disaster response mission, The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency said. Residents of Barbados, about 200 km to the east, have also been urged to stay indoors. “It’s about protecting you and to protect your family, “said Chief Medical Officer Kenneth George. Barbados Defense Force (BDF) deployed a contingent as part of the Regional Security System (RSS) Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) mission in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to following the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano. pic.twitter.com/R1NInZYaSU— CDEMA (@cdemacu) April 10, 2021 Fine ash particles, difficult to clean, pose a respiratory risk, especially for people with underlying problems. Geologist Richard Robertson told people who have decided to stay on the island to do their best to clean up the ash before it settles or gets wet. “Although called ash, volcanic ash is not the product of combustion, like the soft, fluffy material created by burning wood, leaves, or paper. Volcanic ash is a hard shower of rough particles. . They do not dissolve in water, are extremely abrasive and slightly corrosive, and conduct electricity when wet, “the US Geological Survey (USGS) explained. Volcanic ash accumulates on buildings. and its weight can cause roofs to collapse. A 4 inch thick dry layer of ash weighs 120 to 200 pounds per square meter and wet ash can weigh twice as much. electricity, they can cause short circuits and failure of electronic components, especially high voltage circuits and transformers Power failures are common in ash fall areas. The ash also clogs filters used in air ventilation systems, which are especially important during the pandemic. It can also damage car engines and cause communication problems. World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit dedicated to providing meals in the aftermath of natural disasters, is on the island helping people. Chief Sam Bloch reported that people are on rooftops shoveling up to 6 inches of ash. UPDATE from WCK’s @ SamBloch1 on St. Vincent, about 20 minutes north of the last shelter. It’s in the evacuation area, but people like Peter are still there, trying to clean the heavy ashes from the houses so they don’t fall apart. The WCK logistics team also refueled along the way. pic.twitter.com/3HYI2LMhP7— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) April 11, 2021 Professor Claire Horwell from Durham University in the UK who will analyze the ashes emitted by La Soufrière says that while the ashes may look frightening, they won’t harm healthy people. “People are worried if volcanic ash is harmful for inhalation,” she tweeted. “If you are healthy, it can irritate your throat and make you cough, but usually it’s a nuisance. If you have existing respiratory disease, it can make your symptoms worse. Asthmatics may experience wheezing. / breathless. ” With other potential eruptions looming, Robertson advised residents to move as far south as possible to the island. The hazard map below shows how endangered Saint-Vincent is due to an eruption. Chief meteorologist David Sánchez, of the National Meteorological Service (NWS) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has studied the wind pattern in the tropical Atlantic and says the plume will move east and southeast and should stay over the Atlantic Ocean. Sanchez told AccuWeather that so far no impact is expected for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Barry Baxter, a meteorologist at the NWS’s Miami office, said current winds were blowing east and south, which would prevent the ash cloud from traveling the 1,500 miles to Florida. “At this point it doesn’t look like we’ll get anything out of it,” he said. Check back regularly to AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo and Verizon Fios.