Ecuador has declared an amber¹ alert after the Tungurahua volcano started spewing ash again.

通古拉瓦火山再次喷出火山灰，厄瓜多尔因此发布安珀警报。

This is the first significant activity from the Tungurahua volcano this year
A plume² more than 7km (4.3 miles) high could be seen emerging from the volcano in central Ecuador.

The authorities evacuated³ residents living near the volcano's rim⁴ and ordered local schools to close.

The Tungurahua has erupted periodically over the past 12 years, but this is its first significant activity this year.

Monitors said they detected six eruptions⁵, ranging from moderate to large.

"According to our observations, damages to crops, pastures and small effects to the health of people are already evident," the Ecuadorean geophysics institute said.