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Volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent
Photo: Vadim Nefedov / iStockphoto / Getty Images
Due to an impending volcanic eruption, an evacuation of part of the Caribbean island of St. Vincent has been ordered.
All residents of the affected area - the so-called red zone around the volcano La Soufrière in the north of the island - are called upon to leave it immediately for their safety, said the Prime Minister of the island state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, on Thursday (local time ).
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Subterranean tremors had been found on the volcano, indicating that magma was moving to the earth's surface, according to the UWI earthquake research center in Trinidad.
Added to this is the emission of ash and steam.
An explosive outbreak may be imminent and could happen without much warning.
There is a significant risk of a disaster, wrote the civil protection agency Nemo on Twitter.
A cruise ship is used to bring people to safety.
A glowing lava dome could be seen in pictures from the top of the mountain.
Around 1,500 people were killed in an eruption at La Soufrière in 1902.
The current, so-called effusive activity began last December, according to Nemo.
cop / dpa
