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Tungurahua volcano (2011)
A second volcano is once again spewing plumes of ash in the mountain chain near Ecuador's capital.

The country's Geophysics Institute says the Tungurahua volcano shot out several bursts of gas and ash over the weekend, with one reaching more than a mile (about 2 kilometers) above 16,475-foot (5,023-meter) summit. It also hurled incandescent rock onto its slope.

The Cotopaxi volcano closer to the capital was relatively calm Monday after several outbursts in recent days. It shot ash and gas about 1.5 mile (2.5 kilometers) above its crater on Sunday.

It poses a greater threat to populated areas, standing about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Quito. Tungurahua is 87 miles (140 kilometers) south of the capital.

Source: The Associated Press