Peru declares emergency due to eruption of Ubinas volcano
According to Peru's Institute of Geophysics, the volcano has been spewing ash and gas since the beginning of this week, reaching about 5,500 meters (1,800 feet) into the atmosphere. Considering the seriousness of the situation, on 5 July 2023 a state of emergency was declared for 60 days in the areas surrounding the volcano.
According to the institute, the plume of smoke has spread to cities located more than 10 kilometers (6 mi) away from the volcano. Settlements that will be directly affected as a result of the ash and gas from the volcano include QuerapÃ, Ubinas, Sakohaya, Anascapa, Tonohaya, and Escacha.
Ubinas is in Moquegua, a region located 1,200 kilometers or 746 miles southeast of the capital Lima, and is the most active volcano in the country. About 2,000 people live in the affected areas.
The region is part of the "Ring of Fire" along the Pacific Ocean known for volcanic activity and earthquakes. Hundreds of people were evacuated when the volcano erupted in 2019. The neighboring regions of Moquegua, Arequipa, and Tacna have about 40 volcanoes, most of which are inactive.
