Water supplies running short as St Vincent volcano keeps erupting

Ash rises into the air as La Soufriere volcano erupts on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent (Orvil Samuel/AP)

Leaders in St Vincent have said water is running short as heavy ash contaminates supplies in the wake of the eruption of a volcano on the eastern Caribbean island.

Between 16,000 and 20,000 people have been evacuated from the island’s northern region, where the exploding La Soufriere volcano is located, with more than 3,000 of them staying at more than 80 government shelters.