Some 700 people were evacuated Thursday as an active volcano spewed fiery rocks and clouds of ash in central Ecuador, authorities said.
The "voluntary" evacuation was a precautionary measure as experts warned that the Tungurahua volcano, meaning "throat of fire" in native Quichua language, could become more violent in the coming days, said an emergency operation official.
The Ecuadorian government will provide 500 temporary homes for evacuated villagers in the next few days, Housing Minister Maria de los Angeles Duarte told reporters.
On Sunday, at least 1,000 local residents were evacuated due to intensified activity of the volcano.
Located 15 km east of Ambato, Ecuador's fourth largest city, Tungurahua is a steep-sided stratovolcano in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes.
In 2006, the volcano hurled molten rocks that buried nearby villages, killing four people and forcing thousands to leave their homes.
Source:Xinhua
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