Ash rains straight down on Caribbean island after eruption
The Caribbean island of St Vincent has been blanketed in a layer of ash, bringing significant disruption after a volcano erupted on Friday.
White-coloured dirt has covered properties and roads around the island, including in its capital Kingstown.
The La Soufrière volcano was nonetheless rumbling and emitting ash a large number of metres in to the air on Saturday. The primary minister has called for calm.
The volcano was dormant for many years but began to become active in December.
Thousands of people have been forced out of their homes and the normal water supply to the majority of the island features been cut off.
About 3,000 people spent Friday night in emergency shelters, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said, plus some 16,000 were evacuated from ash-covered or vulnerable areas.
Mr Gonsalves said it had been unclear how much even more ash the volcano would launching. Some scientists contain warned that eruptions could continue for times or even weeks.
People over the island, that includes a population of around 110,000, woke on Saturday to come across their homes covered found in the white-coloured volcanic dirt.
One witness on the city of Rabaka told Reuters news agency the ground was covered with about 12 inches (30cm) of ash and rock fragments.
It prompted warnings from officials to stay indoors, while emergency teams advised caution for all those battling with respiratory problems.
"Be cautious all. We are protected in ash and strong sulphur scents pervade the air. We ask that you take the necessary precautions to remain safe and healthful," the island's main emergency management group said.
Some evacuation procedures were hindered by the weighty ash fall, which hindered visibility.
The ash has travelled far beyond St Vincent and on Saturday, a lot more than 100 miles to the east, officials in Barbados urged people to stay indoors.
"Unless you have cause to be exterior, stay in your home. This is to safeguard yourselves and your family," Chief Medical Officer Kenneth George explained.
People on the island of St Lucia, which is just about 47 miles north of St Vincent, also shared images of volcanic ash on the vehicles and homes.
Different Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Guyana, have offered to send emergency supplies to St Vincent. In addition they said they would open up their borders to those fleeing the fallout from the eruption.
The volcano have been dormant since 1979, however in past due 2020 it started spewing steam and smoke and making rumbling noises.
The first sign an eruption was imminent came on Thursday evening, whenever a lava dome became obvious on La Soufrière.
Just before 09:00 in Friday (13:00 GMT), seismologists from the University of the West Indies confirmed an "explosive eruption" was less than way.
Evacuees were taken to cruise lines and safer elements of the island.
