#TurksandCaicos, April 9, 2021 – Harvest Bible church, TCI Government, the Royal TCI Police and Hotels are but some workplaces in Turks and Caicos you can find residents hailing from the Caribbean island of St Vincent and the Grenadines, so people here though physically distant from the danger of a volcano eruption in that country, are close to the situation due to personal ties.
The larger of the islands, St Vincent – particularly districts in the north – were yesterday thrown into turmoil, when the Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves heightened alerts to red and orange due a possible explosive eruption at the country’s highest point.
Alerts which were to signal that within hours or days, the La Soufriere volcano would erupt. By Friday morning, the eruption had started with increased seismic activity and thick plumes billowing from the crater of the volcano.
Volcanic ash was also reported on Friday morning.
The La Soufriere Volcano shifted from simmering to spewing and earthquake shaking; the threat which had been building since December suddenly had come frighteningly real.
Smoke could be seen from miles away, hot larva captured in photos streaming from one of its cones burned red just beneath the surface and people were ordered to evacuate.
Traffic was clogged and docks and bus stations crammed with mask-wearing families, holding onto the bare essentials as they tried to escape the imminent danger. This morning, there are images that ferry boats got hundreds out safely to the Grenadines.
Somberly, Hon Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister held a media conference on Thursday where he informed as many as five cruise ships were on their way to help in moving some 20,000 people of ‘Vincey.’
Named were: Royal Caribbean, which was expected to have two cruise liners docked this morning and another vessel due in later on Friday; Friday evening, Carnival Cruise line will arrive with two ships.
While these cruise companies are hailed as saviours, there is contention over the requirement to be vaccinated.
Prayers are on for the CARICOM country which has received pledges of support from countries like Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St Lucia.
The last time La Soufriere erupted was 42 years ago, in 1979; its worst death toll was over 1,000 people in 1902.