Thousands evacuated on Caribbean island amid threat of imminent volcanic eruption

National Emergency Management Organisation warns of ‘substantial prospect of disaster’

Smoke spews from the dome of the La Soufriere volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines (The UWI Seismic Research Centre)

Thousands of people have evacuated their homes on the Caribbean island of St Vincent due to the threat of an imminent volcanic eruption.

Shelters filled up overnight after residents in “red zones” in northern parts of the island were told by the government to flee the area amid a significant increase in the risk of an eruption at the La Soufriere volcano.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) said on Thursday night local time evacuations by land and sea were being carried out “in preparation for an explosive eruption of La Soufriere”.

The body also said there was "substantial prospect of disaster" amid the volcano threat.

Meanwhile, the University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Centre said: "An explosive phase of the eruption may begin with very little warning.”

Its director said around 16,000 people have been ordered to evacuate on the eastern Caribbean island.

Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister, told people living in so-called red zones in the northwest and northeast of the island needed to leave immediately as the volcano pumped out more smoke and steam.

"There is now in the country an evacuation order," Mr Gonsalves said in a message broadcast on social media.

He has also urged people not to panic amid dire warnings from experts.

Empty cruise ships were scheduled to arrive on Friday after islands such as St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua said they would accept evacuees.

But pandemic could hamper evacuation efforts, with Mr Gonsalves saying people have to be vaccinated if they go aboard a cruise ship or are granted temporary refuge in another island.

The threat of a volcanic eruption comes three months after residents on several eastern Caribbean islands were put on alert after dormant volcanoes showed signs of activity.

Back in January, the government for the island chain of St Vincent and the Grenadines raised the alert level for La Soufriere to alert - which warned of a potential eruption within 24 hours.

Additional reporting by agencies