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Ecuadorians await volcanic eruption

Updated 21.00 Mon Jan 07 2008

The people of Ecuador are expecting the eruption of the Tungurahua volcano.

Authorities have ordered the evacuation of at least 1,000 villagers who live near the foot of the volcano.

"The support teams know what to do, they are ready with transport, personnel, the shelters are ready" - Pablo Morillo

The evacuation of 300 families has taken place as a precautionary measure after the volcano started rumbling and spewing smoke.

The people are from the ten hamlets located on the western slopes of the five thousand metre volcano.

Pablo Morillo, the governor of Chimborazo province, where the volcano is located said: "The support teams know what to do, they are ready with transport, personnel, the shelters are ready."

Representatives of the villagers have asked the government to resettle evacuated families in new locations so that they will not have to return their homes in the danger zone.

Evacuee Domingo Criollo complained about the way the residents were treated by officials.

He said: "The first time we were evacuated, they brought us to the national park and abandoned us there."

Recent reports from Ecuador's Geophysics Institute said the volcano had been spewing ash but there has been no trace of lava.

Tungurahua erupted twice in 2006, killing at least four people and forcing the evacuation of thousands of villagers.