The eruption of the Tungurahua volcano has driven thousands of villagers from their homes but drew a few tourists on Sunday to the quaint mountain town of Banos, apparently a safe distance away from the lava-spewing giant.
About 3,700 people have been evacuating since Friday, when the 5,015m-high volcano began expelling toxic gases and at least four lava flows -- the first since it became active nearly seven years ago. No injuries have been reported.
At dawn on Sunday, Tungurahua, 135km south of the capital of Quito, was producing loud explosions, incandescent rocks and ash.
US tourist Matthew Strauch, 26, who arrived a month ago from Phoenix, Arizona, to study Spanish, said he came to Banos after seeing the eruption on television.
"I'm not afraid. I've heard the sounds from the volcano, but if there's problems, we can leave without danger," he said.
Although villagers have been forced to leave communities around the crater, there are no plans to evacuate Banos, because it is on the eastern side of the volcano and lava flows occurred on the western slope.
High in the Andes, temperate Banos -- a city of 20,000 people at the foot of the volcano -- is a popular destination for hiking, climbing and rafting.
Meanwhile, the wind has carried heavy volcanic ash from the explosions up to 120km, covering nearby towns. Some villagers are in temporary shelters, but others have refused to leave their homes despite the health risks.
In the community of Pillate, Manuel Rosero held a handkerchief over his face and instructed his sister to use a broom to clean the thick ash covering the roof of their cement-block home.
"They said to evacuate but we're not going to leave because we're not going to throw away the animals, the houses," he said.
Rosa Sanchez, 54, said she was worried about her three daughters.
"We are going through something very difficult," she said. "I can't leave because I have my animals."
Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio toured the affected area over the weekend and announced it would receive US$4.9 million in aid.
Tungurahua Governor Eduardo Toaza, who coordinates the province's emergency operations center, said 600 food relief packets were distributed and 500 more were being delivered in the coming hours. Each ration can feed a family of five for two weeks.
"At this time we are worried about feeding these people," he said.
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