An erupting volcano (illustration).

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Rodrigo ARANGUA / AFP

The San Cristobal volcano, located in northwest Nicaragua, erupted on Tuesday.

Violent explosions threw ash and toxic gases into the town of Chinandega, according to environmental activists.

The volcano, which rises to 1,745 m, was rocked by a sudden explosion which raised a column of ash and smoke.

The latter was blown by the wind towards Chinandega, about 17 km from the volcano, according to a local journalist.

The San Cristobal volcano in the northwest of #Nicaragua erupted on Tuesday March 9 with violent explosions projecting ash and toxic gases that reached the town of Chinandega



Read here: https://t.co/oTCnAjzzIm#TesYeuxSurLeMonde #AlAinInfos

- French AlAin (@AlainFrNews) March 10, 2021

Cattle evacuated from the area

The town of Grecia and surrounding villages have also been affected, according to the NGO Humboldt Center for the Defense of the Environment.

"Everything is gray," testified the local journalist.

Rice fields, vegetable crops, fruit trees and pastures are covered with ash.

"

The San Cristobal volcano erupted in Nicaragua on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/Ro3S5qdw45

- Philippe Berry (@ptiberry) March 9, 2021

The ash cloud darkened the sky and caused a strong smell of sulfur in Chinandega.

Residents were trying to protect themselves with umbrellas and masks.

The sources on the sides of the volcano were covered for protection and the cattle were evacuated.

The last eruption of the San Cristobal volcano, one of the highest in the volcanic chain in this region, dates back to April 2016.

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