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Source: Reuters
Costa Rica's Turrialba volcano, last active in the 19th century,
erupted, spewing ash and steam and prompting authorities to
evacuate a small number of people from its slopes.
The 3,340-metre volcano is situated east of the capital San Jose in
the remote, lushly forested central highlands of the Central
American country.
It had shown increased activity since the weekend, Vanessa Rosales,
president of Costa Rica's disaster response commission, said.
"The area around the volcano is not very populated," Rosales said,
while adding that ash from the volcano could reach San Jose if
activity were to become more severe.
Authorities evacuated 20 people from its slopes.
Thirty more people near Turrialba will be evacuated, Rosales
said.
The volcano is not near any major coffee production areas.
Turrialba has been dormant since a 22-year active period that began
in 1864, according to Juan Segura, the director of the Costa Rican
Volcanology and Seismology Observatory.
Ash from Turrialba's last major eruption in February 1866 fell
hundreds of kilometres away in Nicaragua, according to the
observatory.
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