Volcano sprayed ash column 5,000 m

Thousands of people in El Salvador had to evacuate when a volcano first erupted after 37 years, with columns of ash as high as 5,000 meters.

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The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources said the Chaparrastique volcano began erupting at 10:30 am (local time) on December 29. With intense eruption power, the volcano produced columns of smoke and ash approximately 5,000 m high. The debris from the eruption shot away in a radius of 10 km.

Columns of smoke and ash from the mouth of Chaparrastique volcano during the eruption on December 29. Photo: AFP

According to CNN, after assessing the extent of the eruption, authorities have evacuated about 2,000 residents living near the area . Due to the effects of layers of smoke and ash from the crater, many flights must cancel schedules or redirect to other airports. Local authorities have said no cases of casualties have been recorded so far.

President Mauricio Funes said it is still uncertain about the new eruptions of the volcano in the next few days. He demanded that people living near the area warn the danger of quickly evacuating to shelters to avoid danger.

Chaparrastique volcano, located about 140 km east of the capital of San Salvador. This is the most active volcano among 23 volcanoes in El Salvador. However, this is the first eruption of this volcano in 37 years .