Strong explosions rocked Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano, prompting evacuations hundreds of people from nearly villages.
The National Geophysics Institute said hot volcanic material blasted down the slopes of the volcano, and ash plumes soared 6 miles (10 kilometers) above a crater that is already 16,479 feet (5,023 meters) above sea level.
Officials said that within a few hours, winds already had blown the ash over the city of Guyaquil, 110 miles (185 kilometers) to the southwest.
The eruption led aviation officials to halt flights out of Guayaquil and from Quito to Lima, Peru.
Institute researcher Sandro Vaca told Radio Sonorama that the eruption "seems to be growing rapidly." But there were no immediate reports of deaths.
Television images showed fearful people in a village near the volcano weeping as they ran for help from soldiers and police who arrived to help in evacuations.
The National Geophysics Institute said hot volcanic material blasted down the slopes of the volcano, and ash plumes soared 6 miles (10 kilometers) above a crater that is already 16,479 feet (5,023 meters) above sea level.
Officials said that within a few hours, winds already had blown the ash over the city of Guyaquil, 110 miles (185 kilometers) to the southwest.
The eruption led aviation officials to halt flights out of Guayaquil and from Quito to Lima, Peru.
Institute researcher Sandro Vaca told Radio Sonorama that the eruption "seems to be growing rapidly." But there were no immediate reports of deaths.
Television images showed fearful people in a village near the volcano weeping as they ran for help from soldiers and police who arrived to help in evacuations.