Explosive Eruption at Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano [PHOTOS]
![The Tungurahua volcano, which means "Throat of Fire" in Ecuador's native Quechua language, is one of eight active volcanoes in the Andean nation](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1360594/tungurahua-volcano-which-means-throat-fire-ecuadors-native-quechua-language-one-eight.jpg?w=736&f=e21da819063d09ba8ccea78d8695df38)
Ecuador's Geophysics Institute has reported that the Tungurahua volcano has erupted three times, spewing ash and lava.
The institute said that two moderate explosions on Saturday were followed by a third of greater size, and pyroclastic flow stretched 500 meters down its flank. The blasts created a five-mile (8km) column of ash above the volcano, which is located 84 miles (135km) south-east of the capital, Quito.
![The Tungurahua volcano erupted in Banos, Ecuador on 1 February 2014](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1360595/tungurahua-volcano-erupted-banos-ecuador-1-february-2014.jpg?w=736&f=9b9cd8bc0ff786100de4fb6830e400ec)
Some reports are now putting the ash plume height at 32,000 feet while the Washington VAAC advisory mentions ash as high as 47,000 feet.
![Authorities are encouraging residents living near the volcano to evacuate due to increased activity of the volcano, according to local media.](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1360596/authorities-are-encouraging-residents-living-near-volcano-evacuate-due-increased-activity.jpg?w=736&f=0185adf389dd4145d520b06eb5ac9a32)
According to other reports, pyroclastic flows apparently moved down the slopes of the volcano in all directions as well.
![Tungurahua volcano is maintaining a "high level" of seismic activity, with repeated explosions](https://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1360598/tungurahua-volcano-maintaining-high-level-seismic-activity-repeated-explosions.jpg?w=736&f=916490ecef840e1dc1bfcaedd4d34497)
Authorities said the lava reached the lower part of a ravine called Achupashal, blocking a route to a tourist site called Banos.
Tungurahua is 5,023 metres high and has been active since 1999. An eruption in 2006 left four dead and two missing.
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