The Galeras volcano in south-west Colombia erupted on Saturday, forcing authorities to declare a “red alert” and urge the evacuation of people living in the area.
A Red Cross representative reported a “very high ash cloud” and urged the 8,000 people living near the volcano to evacuate.
The spokesman said some parts of the forest on the volcanic mountain had caught fire because of lava flowing from the volcano’s mouth.
The volcano is located close to the city of Pasto, where a lot of tourists are currently staying because of the city’s world-famous carnival.
In 2009, the volcano, considered the most active in Colombia, erupted three times.