Homes, crops damaged by Colombian volcano eruption

Reuters

RUMBLING: A helicopter of the Colombian Air Forces flies near the active volcano Nevado del Huila.

Reuters

ACTIVE: Volcanic activity can be seen on Nevado del Huila.

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The Nevado del Huila volcano in southwest Colombia has erupted, triggering an avalanche of earth and debris that damaged houses, bridges and crops, the country's Ingeominas geological institute said.

Some people fled their homes and civil defence authorities rushed to the area yesterday to evaluate damages and begin cleanup. No injuries were reported.

The volcano, in the province of Huila, is not near any major coffee plantations integral to the economy of this part of the Andean country.

Nevado del Huila erupted at the start of 2007 after laying dormant for hundreds of years. A 1985 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Caldas province triggered mudslides killing 25,000 people in Colombia's worst ever natural disaster.

- Reuters