Ecuador volcano still warming up

Ecuador records 125 explosions of Tungurahua volcano
www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-26 12:20:55

QUITO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador recorded 125 moderate explosions of the Tungurahua volcano in center of the Andes Sunday, according to the Geophysics Institute (GI) of the National Polytechnic School.

"The volcanic activities continue with a high seismic level, mainly characterized by moderate explosions," the IG reported.

There are also 32 earthquakes inside the mountain and continuous shocks for 17 times.

The ash emissions have caused an ash rain in Pillate and Guadalupe near the volcano. At the same time, those emissions have formed 3-km-high clouds.

Tungurahua volcano is 5,029 meters high and located about 135 km south from Quito. The volcano began its current eruptive process in November 1999 and since then has alternatively frequent activities or calmness.

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Volcano is eastern Ecuador spews ash, lava

The Associated Press
Published: July 28, 2008

QUITO, Ecuador: A volcano in eastern Ecuador has begun spewing lava and has shot a column of ash high into the air.

Experts at Ecuador's Geophysics Institute say the Reventador volcano's activity Monday does not pose a threat to surrounding villages or oil pipelines in the area.

The 11,500-foot (3,485-meter) volcano last erupted in November 2002, showering the capital, Quito, with volcanic ash.

Volcanologist Pablo Palacios said that a second volcano in eastern Ecuador, Tungurahua, has also registered "a small increase" in seismic activity.

The 16,575-foot (5,050-meter) Tungurahua has been spitting out ash and gases intermittently since late last year.

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Reventador volcano spews lava near Ecuador capital

Nov 10, 1:52 PM (ET)

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Lava was rising anew in the crater of Ecuador's Reventador volcano on Monday, a day after bursts of ash forced temporary closure of the capital's airport.

Geophysics Institute technician Patricio Ramon said explosion rocked the 11,686-foot (3,562-meter) volcano and lava poured its flanks on Sunday. Officials suspended flights into Quito's airport for three hours as a precaution.

Heightened activity at Reventador could threaten a highway and two oil pipelines, Ramon said. Both lines were operating normally on Monday.

The volcano experienced a violent eruption in 2002 that shot ash 10 miles (17 kilometers) high, blasted a flow of volcanic material nearly 5 miles (8 kilometers) down its slopes and dusted Quito, 60 miles (100 kilometers) to the west with a thick layer of ash.

Fumaroles were rising as well from two volcanos in neighboring Colombia, the 17,598-foot (5,363-meter) Nevado de Huila and the 8,694-foot (2,650-meter) Machin.

Colombia's Institute of Geology and Mining issued alerts and 450 people voluntarily evacuated their homes near Machin, according to officials there.

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