Volcano erupts in Galapagos
2005-05-14 09:41
Quito - Cumbre volcano, in the Galapagos Islands, spewed rivers of lava and sent columns of steam 7km into the air on Friday, officials said.
Cumbre is on the unpopulated island of Fernandina, one of the Galapagos Islands, 1 000km off the coast of Ecuador, which are a major tourist attraction. The volcano is 1 483m high.
Lava rushing into the sea generated plumes of steam, according to Hugo Yepes, director of the Ecuador Geophysical Institute.
"We are watching the direction of the lava flow to determine if there is any threat to tourist areas," Yepes told Radio Quito.
"A visible column of steam, ash and gasses is rising about 7km high and 2km wide and because of the northerly winds is being pushed toward the volcanoes of Isabel Island," he added.
He said the most recent eruption in the Galapagos was in 1998.