The authorities in Ecuador have begun evacuating¹ people from the slopes of the Tungurahua volcano after it started spewing ash.

厄瓜多尔官方已经开始疏散通古拉瓦火山附近的居民，目前该火山正在喷射岩灰。

Scientists say pyroclastic flow from the volcano could threaten some of the villages on the slopes
Scientists say fast-moving currents of extremely hot gas and rock could be seen flowing from the volcano's crater²（火山口，弹坑） .

Tungurahua, some 135km (85 miles) southeast of the capital, Quito, has been in an active state since 1999.

But experts say there has been a rapid increase in its seismic³ activity（地震活动） since Saturday morning.

Scientists with the Ecuadorean Institute for Geophysics say the number of explosions has increased. They say the ash cloud has reached 2km (1.2 miles) in height.

People living on the slopes reported the ground and buildings shaking, and a rumbling⁴（隆隆声） sound coming from the volcano.

Hot gases and rocks started flowing down the western side of the mountain at mid-morning and ash has been raining down on the villages of Pondoa and Patate.

The authorities have put the region immediately around the volcano under red alert and the security forces are preventing people from entering the area.

The tourist town of Banos is one of those being evacuated⁶.

In 1999, its 15,000 inhabitants were forced to evacuate⁵ when the Tungurahua had its last major eruption⁷. Residents were not able to return to their homes for a year.