La Soufrière volcano in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines emitted the latest eruption in a series of explosions on Thursday.
Since April 9 the volcano has been repeatedly erupting, dumping thick layers of ash over the island of Saint Vincent, the largest of the country's over 30 islands.
Pope Francis has expressed his sympathy for the victims of the eruption, many of whom have been forced to evacuate their homes.
In a written message, the Pope assured his “spiritual closeness” with those affected by the disaster, and said he is “praying in a particular way for the emergency personnel and volunteers providing relief assistance.”
This image from space shows the amount of ash covering Saint Vincent since the eruptions began.
Close to 20,000 people are expected to be displaced from their homes as a result. In response, the United Nations has launched a $29.2 million appeal to provide relief to the Cariribbean nation.
Justin McLellan
