(CNN Spanish) — The Ubinas volcano, located in southern Peru, this morning recorded a strong explosion that reached 5 km in height. The ashes were scattered by the winds towards the south and southeast sectors of the volcano, reported in a press release the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP).
The authorities specified that the fall of ash, with a thickness of up to 1 millimeter, was recorded in various towns in the districts of Ubinas and Matalaque.
This event marks the beginning of the volcano’s explosive activity. “From now on, the explosions could occur with intervals of hours and give rise to episodes of ash fall in districts close to the volcano, such as Ubinas, Yunga, Lloque, Chojata, Matalaque, San Juan de Taucani, depending on the direction predominant winds,” explained José del Carpio, IGP volcanologist.
Photograph taken on April 3, 2014 showing the ash-spewing Ubinas Volcano, seen from Arequipa, approximately 1,000km south of Lima. (Credit: ERNESTO BENAVIDES/AFP via Getty Images)
The Prime Minister, Alberto Otárola, informed the media this Monday that an emergency will be declared in Moquegua, the affected area, “in order to have the necessary prevention and protection measures” for a population of about 2,000 people.
Due to the activity of the Ubinas volcano, the Moquegua regional government raised the alert level from yellow to orange on Sunday, the National Civil Protection Institute (Indeci) reported.
