An explosive eruption occurred at 8:41 am local time on 9 April 2021, with an ash plume reaching approximately 32,000 ft (9,800 m) and drifting eastward towards the Atlantic Ocean.[14][15] By then, approximately 20,000 people had evacuated the area surrounding the volcano.[8] The same day, it was warned the eruption was "likely to continue for days and possibly weeks",[16] and another explosive eruption, created by multiple pulses of ash, was reported in the afternoon of 9 April.[14][17] As of the evening of 9 April at 6:45 pm local time, a third explosive eruption was under way, according to the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre.[17]