Volcano eruption in Ecuador kills six and destroys several small villages
[[Image:Equador Tungurahua.JPG|thumb|250px|File photo of Tungurahua, as seen from the north (2004)]]
{{date|August 20, 2006}}

The eruption of volcano [[w:Tungurahua|Tungurahua]] on August 16 destroyed several small villages in the [[w:Ecuador|Ecuadorian]] [[w:Andes|Andes]]. At least 6 people have been killed and about 4000 residents of the affected area have been evacuated.

The 5,023 m high volcano spat lava, stones and ash for several hours on Wednesday night. A 10km high ash cloud spread over an area of 740 by 180 km. Towns like [[w:Ambato|Ambato]] or [[w:Riobamba|Riobamba]], 30 km away from the volcano have been covered with up to 5cm of ash. [[w:Pyroclastic flows|Pyroclastic flows]] descending on the northwestern slopes of the volcano left a path of destruction behind. 

At least seven small villages and hamlets have been completely destroyed. The ash and rocks blocked the Chambo and the Peula river and the road Ambato - [[w:Baños|Baños]], one of the main connections between the [[w:Geography_of_Ecuador#La_Sierra_.28the_highlands.29|Ecuadorian]] highlands and the [[w:Geography_of_Ecuador#El_Oriente_.28the_East.29|Amazon region]]. The Institute for Geophysics has lost an important part of its equipment installed on the slopes of Tungurahua, limiting their capability to monitor the volcanic activity.

[[Image:Ecuador Central Agoyan.JPG|thumb|right|The Hydroelectric power plant Agoyan had to be shut down.]]
The Hydroelectric power plant [[w:Agoyan|Agoyan]] near Baños has been shut down since Wednesday night. On Thursday, air traffic in the whole country was limited due to ash layers on several airports. On Thursday the provinces of [[w:Chimborazo Province|Chimborazo]], [[w:Tungurahua Province|Tungurahua]], [[w:Cotopaxi Province|Cotopaxi]] and [[w:Bolívar Province (Ecuador)|Bolivar]] have been declared a disaster area. Losses in agriculture due to the ash cover are estimated at $150 Million.

On Friday, volcanic activity decreased to a calm that remained into Saturday evening, but the Ecuadorian Institute for Geophysics warns that a further eruption may be imminent.

In 1999, after a long period of rest, the volcano started an eruptive process that continues to this day. After the first eruptions in October 1999 that produced a major ash out-fall and led to the temporary evacuation of more than 25,000 inhabitants of Baños and its surroundings, the activity continued on a medium level. In May 2006 it increased dramatically culminating in violent eruptions on July 14 and August 16.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.eluniverso.com/2006/08/19/0001/12/32CF6973E50747D19A8534D7151859AA.aspx|title=Suben a seis los muertos por erupción volcánica|author=Karina Huacón|pub=El Universo|date=19-8-2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.eluniverso.com/2006/08/18/0001/12/1179E6804D4946788F77FFCD84455937.aspx|title=El Tungurahua riega muerte y destrucción|author=Víctor Hugo Cevallos|pub=El Universo|date=18-8-2006}}
*{{source|url=http://elcomercio.terra.com.ec/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=58407&id_seccion=10|title=El drama y el riesgo de otra erupción crecen|author=Marcos Vaca|pub=El Comercio|date=19-8-2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.eluniverso.com/2006/08/18/0001/12/CA2DCB0E2009456F9F78DF293E91C884.aspx|title=Volcán Tungurahua en aparente calma|author=|pub=El Universo|date=19-8-2006}}
*{{source|url=http://elcomercio.terra.com.ec/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=58408&id_seccion=10|title=El monitoreo del volcán redujo un 50 por ciento|author=|pub=El Comercio|date=18-8-2006}}

==External links==
*[http://www.igepn.edu.ec/vulcanologia/tungurahua/tungurahua.htm Tungurahua information, Ecuadorian Institute for Geophysics]

[[Category:Volcanoes]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Ecuador]]
[[Category:South America]]
[[Category:Amazon rainforest]]


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[[es:El volcán Tungurahua hace erupción y cubre de cenizas a Ecuador]]
[[pl:Ponad milion poszkodowanych przez ekwadorski wulkan]]
File photo of Tungurahua, as seen from the north (2004)


The eruption of volcano Tungurahua on August 16 destroyed several small villages in the Ecuadorian Andes. At least 6 people have been killed and about 4000 residents of the affected area have been evacuated.

The 5,023 m high volcano spat lava, stones and ash for several hours on Wednesday night. A 10km high ash cloud spread over an area of 740 by 180 km. Towns like Ambato or Riobamba, 30 km away from the volcano have been covered with up to 5cm of ash. Pyroclastic flows descending on the northwestern slopes of the volcano left a path of destruction behind. 

At least seven small villages and hamlets have been completely destroyed. The ash and rocks blocked the Chambo and the Peula river and the road Ambato - Baños, one of the main connections between the Ecuadorian highlands and the Amazon region. The Institute for Geophysics has lost an important part of its equipment installed on the slopes of Tungurahua, limiting their capability to monitor the volcanic activity.

The Hydroelectric power plant Agoyan had to be shut down.
The Hydroelectric power plant Agoyan near Baños has been shut down since Wednesday night. On Thursday, air traffic in the whole country was limited due to ash layers on several airports. On Thursday the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Cotopaxi and Bolivar have been declared a disaster area. Losses in agriculture due to the ash cover are estimated at $150 Million.

On Friday, volcanic activity decreased to a calm that remained into Saturday evening, but the Ecuadorian Institute for Geophysics warns that a further eruption may be imminent.

In 1999, after a long period of rest, the volcano started an eruptive process that continues to this day. After the first eruptions in October 1999 that produced a major ash out-fall and led to the temporary evacuation of more than 25,000 inhabitants of Baños and its surroundings, the activity continued on a medium level. In May 2006 it increased dramatically culminating in violent eruptions on July 14 and August 16.
Volcanoes Disasters and accidents Ecuador South America Amazon rainforest