Volcano in Ecuador sends gas and ash into the sky

  • 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano spewed glowing ash and pyroclastic material into the air on Sunday (March 10) as it showed intensified activity for a second day.

Local media on Saturday (March 09) reported that ash was reaching 2 kilometres (1.24 miles) into the sky.

Tungurahua is a towering 5,023 metres (16,480 feet) high and lies some 135 kilometres (some 80 miles) south of the capital city of Quito.

In December, the town of Banos de Agua Santa was covered in a thick layer of volcanic ash, forcing authorities to encourage local residents to evacuate the area.

Tungurahua, which means "Throat of Fire" in the local Quechua language, has been classified as active since 1999, and produced a strong eruption in 2008. It is one of Ecuador's eight active volcanoes.