Saint Vincent volcano: 'Explosive' Soufrière eruption sparks mass evacuation

An "explosive" volcano eruption has blanketed the Caribbean island of St Vincent in ash and smoke.

Volcanic activity on La Soufrière was first detected on Thursday, at which point Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves urged more than 16,000 residents in so-called red zones to urgently evacuate.

The volcano has since spewed ash 6,000m (20,000 ft) into the air.

It is the first eruption on St Vincent since 1979. The worst on record killed more than 1,000 people in 1902.