“Anyone caught in the Red Zone without the permission of the Police will be immediately arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This will apply whether you are a usual resident of the area or not.”
That was one of the latest bulletins coming from the National Emergency Management Organisation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Facebook page.
Authorities reported some difficulty evacuating all residents from the Red zone, with some opting to stay and see the eruption through or gathering in areas near the danger zone to view the pyroclastic flows. NEMO SVG has advised against the dangerous practice and took to their Facebook page to appeal to citizens to “Please desist from gathering at the Rabacca Bridge or anywhere else in the danger zones to view the pyroclastic flows coming from the La Soufrière volcano. This is considered to be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.”
Prior to the massive explosion that resulted in the destruction of the domes and triggered pyroclastic flows, residents had called into local radio shows complaining of looters who have been on the prowl since evacuations began.