ECUADOR: Volcano spews molten rock and ash

Record ID: 1530790

  • Title: ECUADOR: Volcano spews molten rock and ash
  • Date: 6th December 2010
  • Summary: BA�����OS DE AGUA SANTA, ECUADOR (DECEMBER 4, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TUNGURAHUA VOLCANO SPEWING ASH AND GAS CENTRAL PLAZA TOURIST WEARING MASK AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS VOLCANO SPEWING GAS AND ASHES VARIOUS OF MAYOR OF BA�����OS DE AGUA SANTA TALKING ON RADIO WITH OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HUGO PINEDA, BA�����OS DE AGUA SANTA MAYOR, SAYING: "We activated the alarms and the residents left for safe places. Up to now, we've also directed the members of different areas to review and set up temporary shelters." VARIOUS OF VOLCANO SPEWING GAS AND ASH
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2010 03:33
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVA9VBA3O0WWGX8RS56C2ERKFKSD
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The Tungurahua volcano in central Ecuador erupted on Saturday (December 4), spewing rocks, gas and ash, prompting officials to issue an alert and order the evacuation of nearby communities.
    The Tungurahua volcano, which means "Throat of Fire" in Ecuador's native Quechua language, has been rumbling off and on since seismic activity began to pick up in the area in 1999.
    Parts of Ba����os, a nearby town popular with foreign and local tourists, were among the places evacuated.
    The town's main plaza, which was not evacuated, was filled with weekend visitors whose activities had been curtailed by the eruption. Some wore surgical masks to protect their lungs from the ash while they took photographs of the volcano.
    People living within five miles (8 km) of the eruption were evacuated and Ba����os Mayor Hugo Pineda said residents of his town were able to go to temporary shelters.
    "We activated the alarms and the residents left for safe places. Up to now, we've also directed the members of different areas to review and set up temporary shelters," he said.
    The volcanic activity began to subside after five hours on Saturday, according to authorities, but the official alert stayed in effect.
    Located 80 miles (130 km) southeast of the capital, Quito, the 16,500-foot (5,020-metre) Tungurahua is one of eight active volcanoes in the Andean nation.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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