8,000 evacuated as Galeras erupts

Colombian officials have raised the alert on the Galeras volcano to “red,” the highest level, and ordered the evacuation of 8,000 people after a small dawn eruption.

The small eruption, which was not an explosion, occurred at 4:00 am (local time).

The state geological service’s Martha Calvache says the volcano is “emitting ash, and lava has been detected in the crater”.

“The volcano is in a very unstable phase,” she said.

“There hasn’t been a major eruption or quakes, but in no way can you think that nothing is happening.”