Nicaraguan Volcano Spews Columns of Ash
Managua -
Nicaragua’s San Cristobal volcano produced a
series of explosions that showered ash over
nearby towns on Sunday.
The country’s Institute of Territorial
Studies said the blasts were due to magma
moving inside the volcano.
It urged nearby residents to be prepared for
possible evacuation should San Cristobal’s
activity increase significantly.
The U.S. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center issued
a statement for aviation interests saying
that ash was moving westward at or below a
height of 5 miles toward the Pacific.
Local media reported that a “giant plume of
smoke” was being expelled from the volcano
after an initial explosion at 8:15 p.m.
local time.
A series of smaller blasts was reported
shortly afterward.
Cone-shaped San Cristobal soars to a height
of 5,725 feet about 70 miles northwest of
Managua, near the Honduran border.
It last erupted in 2006, but a more powerful
eruption occurred in 1999.
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