More flee volcano on Caribbean island of St. Vincent

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent -- More people fled their homes on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent on Sunday as La Soufriere volcano rumbled loudly for a third day and the heavy weight of its ashfall damaged some buildings. Residents reported widespread power failures early in the day, though authorities restored electricity to most of the island by late afternoon.

The eruption Friday of La Soufriere prompted many people to evacuate their homes, and others who had remained in place sought shelter elsewhere Sunday.

The volcano's rumbles were heard in the capital of Kingstown, about 20 miles south.

"I'm just here wondering when it's going to calm down," resident Kalique Sutherland said.

The eruption could continue for some time, said Richard Robertson, the lead scientist at the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center.

Plumes of ash rise from the La Soufriere volcano as it erupts Friday on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent, as seen from Chateaubelair.Orvil Samuel ~ Associated Press

"It's likely that at some point it would quiet down and hopefully we would have a break so that we could recover a little bit more, but don't be surprised if after the break it picks up like this again," Robertson said.

Elford Lewis, a 56-year-old farmer who evacuated his home Sunday morning, said the ongoing eruption is worse than the last big one in 1979.

"This one is more serious," said Lewis, who witnessed the big eruption decades ago.

An eruption of the 4,003-foot volcano in 1902 killed roughly 1,600 people.

About 16,000 people have had to flee their ash-covered communities with as many belongings as they could stuff into suitcases and backpacks. However, there have been no reports of anyone being killed or injured by the initial blast or those that followed.

Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of the 32 islands that make up the country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has said people should remain calm and keep trying to protect themselves from the coronavirus. He said officials were trying to figure out the best way to collect and dispose of the ash, which covered an airport runway near Kingstown, and fell as far away as Barbados, about 120 miles to the east.

About 3,200 people took refuge at 78 government-run shelters, and four empty cruise ships stood ready to take other evacuees to nearby islands, with a group of more than 130 already taken to St. Lucia. Those staying at the shelters were tested for COVID-19, with anyone testing positive being taken to an isolation center.

Nearby nations, including Antigua and Grenada, also offered to take in evacuees.