For the second time in weeks, Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano erupted on Tuesday night, spewing embers, gases and ash from its crater. It follows last month's eruptions which shot out a seven kilometre (4.3 mile) high column of gases into the atmosphere. No casualties were immediately reported.
The Geophysical Institute of Ecuador said on Tuesday that the eruption shot ash and small rocks high into the air and that re- routing flights was being considered.
Hugo Yepez, Head of the Geophysical Institute, said that re-routing flights, as was done in Europe when the Icelandic volcano became extremely active earlier this year, was an effective measure.
"The cloud of ash is cutting across a flying route. That is why we need to re-route or send (planes) the other side. What they did in Europe, in a very efficient way, was to establish a limit in altitude above which flying was not allowed. So they would fly under 22- or 23- thousand feet or over 26 thousand feet," he explained.
The volcano went through a period of high activity in July and August but no eruption resulted.
The volcano, located 135 kilometres (84 miles) southeast of the capital Quito, has been active since 1999.
Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano erupts with gusto (Natural sound)
15:22 GMT 02.12.2010 (Updated: 19:53 GMT 19.10.2022)
© RIA Novosti
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For the second time in weeks, Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano erupted on Tuesday night, spewing embers, gases and ash from its crater. It follows last month's eruptions which shot out a seven kilometre (4.3 mile) high column of gases into the atmosphere. No casualties were immediately reported.
