An explosive second and third eruption rocked La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent on Friday, after a first eruption prompted mandatory evacuation orders from local government.
Ash and smoke rise from La Soufriere volcano on Saint Vincent
Plume of smoke from La Soufriere during second eruption as seen from Belle Isle
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APTN
Access to a "Red Zone" taking up almost a third of the 133-square mile island near the volcano has been restricted and no one except official personnel are allowed entry.
Authorities on site estimated the second eruption's ash column rose close to 50,000 feet (15 kilometres) high, more than double the size of the first eruption just hours before.
Since the eruptions, ash has headed east into the Atlantic Ocean.
Roughly 16,000 people who live in the red zone near the volcano in the island's northern region were forced to evacuate, though there have been no immediate reports of casualties.
A cruise ship arrived Friday morning to Kingstown, the capital and main port of St. Vincent, to take evacuees to neighbouring islands that have offered their help, but no boarding had been registered by Friday evening.