The explosive eruption foreshadowed at St Vincent’s La Soufrière volcano has come to pass on Friday (April 9).

According to the Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Indies (UWI), La Soufrière burst into a cloud of dust and ash arounf 8:41 am local time.

“This a culmination of the seismic activity that began on April 8. The eruption is ongoing and more information will be shared as things progress,” the SRC indicated.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, acting on advice from seismologists monitoring the volcano, ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents living in and near the designated red disaster zone on Thursday.

The lava dome created by the effusive eruption between December 2020 and April, glowed red amid the night sky.

Preliminary reports suggest the ash plume, a precursor to greater events, has reached 10 kilometres into the St Vincent sky. Satellite imagery already shows the plume visible from space.

Stay tuned for more details.

• Also see related article: Gonsalves orders mandatory evacuation as explosive eruption ‘imminent’ at La Soufrière