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El Salvador to evacuate volcano slopes

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Salvadoran authorities have resumed evacuating residents around the slopes of the Chaparrastique volcano, expressing fears that it may erupt anew.

The 2,130-meter-high (7,000 ft) volcano began erupting with spewing ash and gases December 29, 2013 after remaining quiet since its last eruption in 1976, according to officials.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated following the Sunday eruption, but El Salvador’s Civil Protection Director Jorge Melendez said almost half of them had made the decision to return home, defying official advice.

El Salvador’s Environment Ministry officials, meanwhile, announced Wednesday that the volcano is likely to erupt again, this time emitting a lava flow as well.

The announcement came as the volcano has been continuously emitting gases after spewing a 5,000-meter-high ash cloud during its Sunday’s eruption.

Moreover, volcanologist Francisco Barahona of the University of El Salvador stated that persistent emission of sulphur dioxide from the Chaparrastique could be a signal that another eruption was forthcoming.

Additionally, Herman Rosa of the Salvadoran Environment Ministry further warned that another eruption “could trigger not ashes, but a lava flow.”

Meanwhile, while officials have pointed the “reluctance” of residence to remain in shelters provided following the Sunday’s emission, they noted that authorities may resort to coercion in the case of an emergency.

Chaparrastique is one of more than 20 volcanoes in the small Latin American country.

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