An explosive eruption rocked La Soufriere volcano on the eastern Caribbean island of St Vincent on Friday following mandatory evacuation orders from the local government. Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Centre, said the ash column is estimated to have risen as high as 10 kilometres.

“There is heavy ashfall in the near vicinity,” she said. “More explosions could occur.” Joseph said it was impossible to predict whether any potential upcoming explosions would be bigger or smaller than the first one. The volcano last erupted in 1979, and a previous eruption in 1902 killed some 1,600 people.