St Vincent volcano erupts again, spewing more gas and ash

Experts raise concerns about residents who refuse to evacuate as ‘huge explosion’ reported at La Soufriere volcano.

La Soufriere volcano on the Caribbean island of St Vincent erupted in another huge explosion on Monday, sending sulphuric gas and ash over a wide area and prompting concerns about the safety of residents who have not evacuated. The latest eruption sent fast-moving flows of hot gas and volcanic material down the south and southwest flanks of the volcano, which first erupted on Friday. The government had ordered about 16,000 people who live in communities close to the volcano to evacuate on April 9, after the island was put on red alert due to a shift in volcanic activity at the crater of La Soufriere.