Thousands flee Erupting Colombian Volcano
Pastor Dale Morgan
Thousands flee Erupting Colombian Volcano*
Thousands of people have been evacuated after a volcano erupted in
southern Colombia, throwing out clouds of ash several kilometres high.
The 4,276m (14,110ft) Galeras volcano erupted at 2006 local time on
Thursday (0106 GMT on Friday). No casualties have been reported.
Experts said the eruption was not a serious one, but local residents had
to follow an evacuation procedure.
The volcano became reactivated 20 years ago and has erupted several times.
Nine people died in a 1993 eruption including five scientists who were
doing experiments in the crater.
But Fernando Gil, head of the Colombian Seismological Network, told the
Associated Press news agency the activity was the most serious since
reactivation.
"Most eruptions are violent and short," he said.
About 8,000 people in areas of the city of Pasto threatened by the
volcano were evacuated.
But most of the city, which is situated near the Ecuadorean border, was
likely to be spared, Mr Gil said.