- Title: ECUADOR: TOWN OF BANOS EVACUATED BECAUSE OF TUNGURAHUA VOLCANIC ACTIVITY
- Date: 18th October 1999
- Summary: BANOS, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 17, 1999) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: VARIOUS OF AERIALS OF VOLCANO SPEWING SMOKE 0.25 2. SV: ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT JAMIL MAHUAD IN HELICOPTER WATCHING VOLCANO 0.29 3. GV: AERIAL OF VOLCANO 0.45 4. MV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GEOLOGIST MINARD HALL SAYING: "We have already seen that the volcano's activity came to its current state in only two months which is a very short time. We already know that the lava is in the summit and we can expect lava flow and clouds in the next weeks." 1.10 5. GV: VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS EVACUATING (4 SHOTS) 1.45 6. MV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT JAMIL MAHUAD SAYING: "Because of the shape of the volcano with the opening almost in the center of the summit the time in which the ash cloud could take to to reach the population from the summit would be from five to 10 minutes." 2.05 7. GV/MV: VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS WEARING FACE MASKS EVACUATING (4 SHOTS) 02.27 8. LV/GV: SECURITY FORCES STANDING ON STREET WEARING FACE MASKS 2.36 9. CU/ZOOM: VOLCANO SPEWING SMOKE 2.46 10. MV/TILT: PEOPLE EVACUATING AS VOLCANO SPEWS SMOKE IN BACKGROUND 2.52 11. GV/PAN: PEOPLE NEXT TO HELICOPTER AS PREPARE TO EVACUATE AND SMOKE COMING FROM TOP OF VOLCANO 3.05 12. GV/MV: VARIOUS PEOPLE PREPARING TO EVACUATE (6 SHOTS) 3.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd November 1999 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BANOS, ECUADOR
- Country: Ecuador
- Reuters ID: LVA5N599N3XWR1PMO5X51CP1C7FV
- Story Text: Banos, one of Ecuador's most scenic towns, has been
evacuated after being put on "orange alert" because the
Tungurahua volcano threatens to send lava and burning gas its
way in the next few days or weeks, officials said on Sunday.
Scientists declared an "orange alert" for Tungurahua
on Saturday (October 16) forcing Banos' 20,000 people along
with residents of other villages on the volcano's slopes to
evacuate the area.
"We already know that the lava is in the summit and we can
expect lave flow and clouds in the next few weeks," said
geologist Minard Hall.
Banos lies 105 miles (170 km) south of the capital Quito.
With its hot springs and waterfalls tumbling down green
slopes, the town is among Ecuador's biggest tourist draws.
Just below the equator but at 5,900 feet (1,800 metres)
above sea level, it enjoys a crisp climate of eternal spring
and a spectacular view of snowcapped Tungurahua, whose name
means "Throat of Fire" in the Quechua Indian language.
"The time in which the ash cloud could take to reach the
population from the summit would be from five to 10 minutes,"
warned Ecuadorean President Jamil Mahuad.
Tungurahua began to rumble in September.It last erupted
in 1916, forcing locals to flee wearing wooden bowls on their
heads for protection against falling rocks.
Scientists say the volcano erupts every 100 years or so
and lava could flow over a ridge into parts of Banos.
Ecuador has 31 active volcanoes.
Quito is surrounded by nine volcanoes, one of which,
Guagua Pichincha, recently begun to shower the capital with
ash.
The last time Guagua Pichincha erupted was in 1660.
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