QUITO (AFP) Oct 03, 2002 The Tungurahua volcano, in the center of Ecuador, which has been erupting for almost a year, had a spectacular explosion of gases, ash and water Wednesday, according to geophysicists here.
The explosion, one of Tungurahua's largest, took place at 8:29 a.m.and reached a height of seven kilometers (4.3 miles), according to Alexandra Alvarado, of the Geophysical Institute at the Quito National Polytechnic School.
Alvarado added that the cloud of ash, which could be seen from Quito some 135 kilometers (84 miles) away, was drifting and was last reported raining volcanic dust on Ambato, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northwest of Tungurahua.
Large volcanic eruption in Ecuador
