The volcano “continues to show periods of explosive activity,” said dr. Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI-SRC), said.
Joseph reports the third explosion in an audio update released Friday night. She did not provide additional details about the third explosion, but it appears to have been smaller than the previous two. The center works with local authorities to monitor the volcano’s activities.
“Be careful everyone. We are covered in ash and strong sulfur odors penetrate the air. For those with breathing problems, we ask that you take the necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy,” NEMO said.
Authorities said explosive eruptions were likely to continue for “days and possibly weeks” after the first eruption on Friday swept away an ash plume that stretched 6,066 meters into the air.
La Soufrière is on the largest island of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines chain located.
The second explosion took place around 14:45 on Friday and was smaller than the first explosion, according to NEMO.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on Thursday issued a disaster warning due to a change in the volcanic activity of the volcano. The island was on a red alert basis, meaning an eruption ‘is now imminent’, NEMO said.
In about a dozen districts of St. Vincent has been evacuated, affecting about 6,000 to 7,000 people, a UWI-SRC spokesman told CNN.
Kenton Chance, a freelance journalist, told CNN on Friday that he was about five miles from the volcano in the town of Rosehall on St. Vincent was. If still fell, but in declining quantities, he said.
“Normally you would have a very impressive view of the volcano,” he said. “But because of the amount of ash in the air, you can not see it.”
CNN’s Paul Murphy contributed to this report.