The volcano “continues to exhibit periods of explosive activity,” said Dr. Erouscilla Joseph, Director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI-SRC).
Joseph reported the third explosion in an audio update released Friday night. She did not provide additional details about the third explosion, but it appears that it was smaller than the previous two. The center works with the local authorities to monitor the volcano’s activity.
“Be careful everyone. We are covered in ash and strong sulfur smells permeate the air. For people with respiratory problems, we ask that you take the necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy,” said NEMO.
Authorities have said it is likely that explosive eruptions could continue for “days and possibly weeks” after the initial eruption on Friday ejected an ash plume reaching 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) into the sky.
La Soufrière is located on the largest island of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines chain.
The second explosion occurred around 2:45 PM on Friday and was smaller than the first, according to NEMO.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on Thursday issued a disaster alert in response to a change in the volcano’s eruptive activity. The island was put on red alert, meaning an eruption “was imminent,” said NEMO.
Evacuation orders were carried out in about a dozen districts of St. Vincent, affecting about 6,000 to 7,000 people, a UWI-SRC spokesman told CNN.
Kenton Chance, a freelance journalist, told CNN Friday that he was about five miles from the volcano in the town of Rosehall on St. Vincent. Ash was still falling, but in diminishing amounts, he said.
“Normally you have an impressive view of the volcano,” he said. “But you can’t see it because of the amount of ash in the air.”
CNN’s Paul Murphy contributed to this report.