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Cruise Ships Arriving Friday to Evacuate St. Vincent Residents as La Soufriere Volcano Threatens Explosion

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves issued an immediate evacuation order as the situation at the La Soufriere volcano deteriorated further on Thursday afternoon, and announced that several cruise ships would be arriving from Friday to help get residents out. He made the announcement on the advice of the country’s disaster officials, after Professor Richard Robertson, the lead scientist monitoring the volcano, reported further activity at La Soufriere. “I hereby order as follows: 1) the evacuation of all premises in the areas designated as the red zone on the northeast and northwest of St. Vincent and the evacuation of the area itself…and 2) the exclusion of persons, vessels or vehicles form such premises and areas, save and except for the purpose of effecting the said evacuation,” he said, adding that while the evacuation order would be published on Friday, it would take immediate effect. “I want to urge all our people to be calm, do not panic, be discip...