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On Thursday, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves declared a disaster alert prompted by a change in the eruptive activity at the La Soufrière volcano, according to the country's National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). This morning, the volcano erupted.
Citizens in the North region of the island including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been evacuated. A total of 15 families are now in the Kingston Church meetinghouse. There is water and food available and more will be brought to the chapel soon.
“Local leaders of the Church are leading the efforts to safeguard members in coordination with authorities in the affected communities. Generators have been purchased to secure power in the Church building as it is being used as a shelter with capacity for 50 people. We want to help in any way we can because that is what Jesus Christ would do if He were here,” said Josue Vanderhorst, Self-reliance and Welfare Manager of the Church in the Caribbean Area.
A shipment of goods from Puerto Rico will be sent in the coming days to Saint Vincent, thanks to humanitarian efforts the Church has put in place for this emergency prompted by the volcano in the island.