A buildup of rock and ash in Montserrat's towering volcano, which has been active in the last seven years, forced the evacuation of 300 people in nearby towns, officials said tonight.
Government authorities in the British colony told residents in the areas of Isle Bay, Waterworks, Happy Hill, Lower Friths and Old Towne to leave their homes near the rumbling mountain and move to a safe zone in the north of the island.
"Authorities are telling people the situation is dangerous. The risk is high," said Mr James White, operations officer at Montserrat's Emergency Department. "People should move out of these areas."
A small island in the eastern Caribbean, Montserrat has been struggling with its active Soufriere Hills volcano since it roared to life in July 1995 after nearly four centuries of virtual dormancy.
Before the volcanic activity began, the 39-square-mile island had a population of about 11,000. Currently there are about 5,000 residents. The others fled to Britain, the United States or neighboring islands to find jobs when Montserrat's tourism-based economy collapsed.