A volcano has erupted on the main Comoros island in the Indian Ocean, sending thousands of people fleeing their homes.
There have been no reports of deaths or injures.
Experts who flew over the summit of Mount Karthala say the lava is confined inside the volcano so far, and has not spilled over the top.
Witnesses say the volcano began spewing ash and dark smoke Sunday over Grand Comore, the largest of the three Comoros islands. They say black rain pounded homes near the summit.
Comoran officials have urged residents to leave the area and to avoid breathing the ash. Emergency officials are also worried the volcano could spew toxic gases.
The Karthala volcano last erupted in 1991. No one was killed, but thousands of people fled their homes.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.