Volcano Eruption at Ecuador’s Tungurahua

The 16,475-foot (5,023-meter) volcano has been erupting intermittently since October 1999, located 135 kilometers southeast of the capital city of Quito. Tungurahua means “throat of fire” in the region’s indigenous Quechua language.

Ash from Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano covers a cow.

Lava, ash, and superheated rock were flung into the air during an eruption of Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano.

Carlos Sanchez analyzes samples of volcanic ash from Tungurahua in Baños, Ecuador. Sanchez, calls himself the “Volcano Watcher” because he helps volcanologists by observing Tungurahua from a tree house that is located less than a mile from the volcano’s crater.

Dense clouds of volcanic gas and ash billow from the mouth of Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano, during a period of heightened activity. Eruptions in 2006 killed at least four people, left two missing, and forced the evacuation of thousands of people.