A volcanic eruption in eastern El Salvador has sent thousands of residents fleeing the area. Chaparrastique Volcano in the province of San Miguel sent a huge cloud of ash and smoke after an enormous explosion was heard at approximately 10:30 AM by inhabitants of the area. Government authorities and emergency services began evacuating people in the villages and towns surrounding the volcano, however there have been no deaths of injuries reported.
The enormous cloud of ash and smoke was visible from the country's capital, San Salvador, despite the fact that the volcano itself is located 138 kilometres away. Salvadorian authorities report that some 5,000 people live in San Miguel, an important coffee-producing province in the country's east. The government has been monitoring the situation since the thirteenth of December when increased seismic activity was detected inside the volcano.
According to Reuters, "El Salvador has 23 active volcanoes and the Chaparrastique volcano is considered one of the most active, with 26 eruptions in the last 500 years."
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