Caribbean’s St Vincent island volcano erupts after 16,000 people evacuated

An explosive eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in the Caribbean has rocked the island of St Vincent following mandatory evacuation orders from the local government.

More than 16,000 residents had been evacuated as volcanic activity increased ahead of the eruption, which took place on Friday morning local time.

Evacuees have been given temporary homes on cruise ships and in safer parts of the island.

Emergency management officials said the ash column was about 6 kilometres high and that the ash was headed east into the Atlantic Ocean.