QUITO, Aug 20, 2006 (AFP) - The Tungurahua volcano was relatively calm Sunday for a third straight day after a violent eruption left five people dead and buried villages in southern Ecuador, according to the Geophysical Institute.

The 5,029-meter (16,500-foot) volcano appeared to have less accumulated energy and low seismic activity, a sign that it probably ejected most of its gases during Thursday's eruption, the institute said.

"It will probably continue this way until a new rise of magma," it said in its daily report.

"When it was possible to observe the volcano's mouth, vapor emissions were not very strong. No roaring was heard," the institute said in its daily report.

The eruption was the strongest since 1999 and affected four provinces.

Vulcanologists said 8,000 tonnes of incandescent material rained down on villages. Hundreds of farm animals were killed and crops destroyed in these areas, and thousands of people were evacuated.

vel/lt/kd AFP 210117 GMT 08 06

Copyright (c) 2006 Agence France-Presse
Received by NewsEdge Insight: 08/20/2006 21:18:48