KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Today, Friday, April 13 — a “black Friday” — marks the 33rd anniversary of the most recent eruption of La Soufrière.
On Good Friday, April 13, 1979 – a “black Friday”, the volcano erupted, displacing 20,000 persons on mainland St. Vincent.
There were no reports of deaths although many citizens where still living in emergency shelters when the nation gained independence on Oct. 27 that year.
The volcano also erupted in 1718, 1812, 1902, and 1971.
The eruption of May 7, 1902 came just hours before the eruption of Mount Pelée on Martinique, which, killed 1,680 people.
According to the Trinidad-based University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, La Soufrière is the youngest volcanic centre on St. Vincent.
It occupies the northernmost third of the island and is considered to be the only volcano on the island that is likely to erupt in the future, the centre says.