Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Ecuador

Ecuador volcano spews ash again

Ecuador's Guagua Pinchincha volcano on Friday set off one of its most powerful explosions since coming back to life last year. The volcano, located near the capital Quito, shot a cloud of vapor and ash nearly 6 feet into the sky.
Prevailing winds blew the volcanic ash away from Quito, which has experienced several ash storms since the 15,840-foot volcano began its latest series of eruptions last September. The most powerful eruption occurred last month when a cloud of dust and vapor rose 9 feet into the sky, blanketing Quito in a coat of gray ash.

Officials doubt the volcano will produce a major eruption that would threaten Quito's population of 1.4 million. The last giant eruption from Pinchincha occurred in 1660, and did not kill anyone.

Another of Ecuador's volcanoes, Tungurahua, has been smoldering since September. About 25,000 people were evacuated Oct. 16 from the tourist town of Banos and nearby villages on the volcano's slopes, 78 miles south of Quito. Scientists have warned of an imminent, violent lava eruption from Tungurahua.

DisasterRelief.org is a unique partnership between the American Red Cross, IBM and CNN dedicated to providing information about disasters and their relief operations worldwide. The three-year-old website is a leading disaster news source and also serves as a conduit for those wishing to donate to disaster relief operations around the globe through the international Red Cross movement.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. To help the victims of disaster, you may make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. The Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organization that annually provides almost half the nation's blood supply, trains nearly 12 million people in vital life-saving skills, mobilizes relief to victims in more than 60,000 disasters nationwide, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 20 countries, and transmits more than 1.4 million emergency messages to members of the Armed Forces and their families. If you would like information on Red Cross services and programs please contact your local Red Cross.

=A9 Copyright 1999, The American National Red Cross. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer

DisasterRelief
DisasterRelief.org is a unique partnership between the American Red Cross, IBM and CNN dedicated to providing information about disasters and their relief operations worldwide. The three-year-old website is a leading disaster news source and also serves as a conduit for those wishing to donate to disaster relief operations around the globe through the international Red Cross movement. American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. To help the victims of disaster, you may make a secure online credit card donation or call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation to your local Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. The Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organization that annually provides almost half the nation's blood supply, trains nearly 12 million people in vital life-saving skills, mobilizes relief to victims in more than 60,000 disasters nationwide, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 20 countries, and transmits more than 1.4 million emergency messages to members of the Armed Forces and their families. If you would like information on Red Cross services and programs please contact your local Red Cross. © Copyright, The American National Red Cross. All Rights Reserved.