A volcanic eruption in Nicaragua forced the government to order around 3,000 people to evacuate nearby communities.
The government sent soldiers to the area surrounding the San Cristobal volcano, the largest in the country, to enforce the evacuation mandate, reported Reuters.
The volcano, situated around 95 miles north of the capital Managua, erupted several times Saturday, and sent a three-mile plume of ash and smoke into the sky.
“A response plan exists for volcano eruptions and every community has clearly defined places for people to go to once they are evacuated,” Guillermo Gonzalez, head of Nicaragua’s disaster aid agency, told Reuters.
A spokesperson with the government told the news agency that as many as 20,000 people could be affected by the eruption.
The towns of El Viejo, El Chonco, Villa 15 de Julio, and Rancheria were showered with ash, reported Sky News.
Javier Mejia, the head of the country’s geological institute, said that there was “strong activity” from the volcano, adding, “We do not rule out anything, but call for calm.”
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