The eruption of Mount Tavurvur on the island of New Britain began early Friday, said Craig Earl-Spurr, a meteorologist at the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Australia.
The volcano spewed a thick tower of ash that reached as high as 60,000 feet above sea level.
Dramatic photos posted on social media showed Tavurvur belching fire and ash from across a bay. The volcano is situated only a few kilometers from the township of Rabaul.
In 1994, Tavurvur erupted at the same time as nearby Mount Vulcan, destroying Rabaul.
By Jethro Mullen and Radina Gigova