Montserrat volcano hurls rocks, gases

Light ash has fallen over the capital of Montserrat after the Caribbean island's temperamental volcano hurled another round of hot rocks and gases.

Volcano observatory director Paul Cole says a small pyroclastic flow nearly reached the ocean as Soufriere Hills shed part of its old dome this week.

He said Friday that ash fell on parts of Olveston and Old Town.

Tremors also shook the volcano as it began emitting lava closer to the summit.

The volcano became active in 1995 and killed 19 people when it erupted two years later. It buried much of the British territory and forced about half its 12,000 inhabitants to leave.

Soufriere Hills has shot several plumes of ash in recent months.