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Kingstown (AP) - The La Soufrière volcano erupted on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent.
Thousands of people were brought out of the danger zone to safety, as the government of the island state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines announced on Friday.
The evacuation was made difficult by heavy ash rain.
"The visibility is very poor," reported the disaster control agency Nemo.
A column of smoke up to ten kilometers high rose above the mountain in the north of the island.
Ash rain also fell at Argyle International Airport in the south of the island.
Nemo called on all residents to leave the danger zone around the volcano immediately.
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There could be further and even stronger outbreaks, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves warned at a press conference.
The difficult situation on the island is likely to last for months, said the head of government in a voice choked with tears.
Subterranean tremors had previously been detected at the volcano, indicating that magma was moving to the surface of the earth.
The government of the island state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines began evacuating the so-called red zone around the volcano on Thursday.
The cruise companies Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises sent two ships to the region to bring people out of the danger zone to safety.
The Jamaican government offered its assistance to the authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The island state of St. Lucia activated an emergency protocol and opened its airport and seaport to people from the danger zones.
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According to Prime Minister Gonsalves, around 4,500 people have already been brought to safety.
Around 2000 found shelter in emergency shelters.
Old people and people with health problems should be accommodated in hotels.
In the coming days, some people should also be brought to the surrounding Caribbean islands of Grenada, Antigua and Dominica.
The 1178 meter high La Soufrière is the only active volcano on St. Vincent.
Around 1,500 people were killed in an outbreak in 1902.
It last erupted in 1979.
Current volcanic activity began in December, according to Nemo.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210409-99-144286 / 3
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Communication Nemo
Communication cruise company
Information about the volcano
Communication Government of Jamaica
Press conference Gonsalves
Communication from St. Lucia