Residents of St Vincent and the Grenadines especially were warned to stay away from La Soufriere volcano due to increased seismic activity.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, urged the public to hope for the best even as the government plans for the worst as the volcano entered an effusive eruption stage.

“All the residents in the communities between Fancy to Georgetown and from North Leeward areas, from Belle Isle upwards, you have to be on alert, especially. At relatively short notice, you may get — MAY — an order to evacuate if, in fact, we have the scientific information that an explosive eruption will be occurring or at least the likelihood of it.”

An effusive eruption within the crater of La Soufriere, with visible gas and steam, was observed yesterday. As a result, the alert level has been elevated to Orange.

Source: Caribbean News Now