'Throat of Fire' volcano erupts in Ecuador

[Judi Lynn]

'Throat of Fire' volcano erupts in Ecuador
Posted: 2:58 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2014

A massive volcano in Ecuador erupted Friday, shooting a cloud of ash several miles into the air.

The volcano is 90 miles south of the capital city of Quito. The BBC reports the eruption produced all the ash in just five minutes. The volcano, known as the "Throat of Fire," has erupted on and off for the past 15 years.

But the volcano has been noticeably more active in the past two months — including a major eruption in February. The eruption sent ash at least 6 miles high, but it wasn't the only one on Friday. (Via YouTube / TheWorldNewsTube1)

The Daily Mirror notes another explosion Friday lasted four minutes, followed by five smaller tremors.

The eruption comes just days after a massive earthquake and several aftershocks hit the coast of Chile. It's not clear whether the seismic activity had anything to do with Friday's eruption. (Via ABC)

More:
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/national/throat-fire-volcano-erupts-ecuador/nfSfK/

[Warpy]

1. I have a feeling the quake shook up the pressurized magma just enough

to have the volcano clear its throat ahead of schedule.

That volcano will turn dangerous if it goes silent for a few decades, meaning larger quantities of pressurized, gassy magma are building up. That explosion will last more than 5 minutes and produce ash that can be brushed or blown off.