Ecuador: volcanic eruption near the capital, Quito

A five kilometre plume of ash is erupting from a volcano only 30 kilometres from the capital of Ecuador.

Cotopaxi rumbled into life for the first time since 1877 in April. It is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes because of its proximity to a heavily populated area. Snow and ice on the summit mean fast-moving volcanic rock and mud flows also pose a risk.