Tungurahua To Blow

Tungurahua

From Bloomberg:

The Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador's central Andes has begun to erupt and may spread ash across six provinces, the country's geophysical institute said.

The intensity of the eruption matches that of the violent explosions registered on July 14, 2006, with the mountain spewing ash, volcanic gases and rocks, the institute reported today on its Web site.

The heaviest period of activity so far was recorded around 1 a.m. local time, the institute said. Heavy cloud cover is limiting visibility, it added.

Falling ash will likely affect six of Ecuador's 24 provinces, it said. The government has already declared a state of emergency in several of those areas following heavy rains and flooding that led to evacuations and crop damage.

It's amazing how much seismic activity there is in South America right now.