Peru declares emergency as Ubinas volcano spews ash and gas

The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency around the Ubinas volcano in southern Peru, as it spews ash and gas.

The decree will be in force for 60 days and covers districts in the Moquegua region, some 1,100 km south of Lima, affected by Ubinas, Peru's most active volcano.

It started a new eruption on June 24, emitting gas and ash puffs. On Tuesday, two eruptions blew ash some 5,500 meters into the sky. The ash settled over the southern Peruvian districts. Volcanologist Jose Del Carpio said Tuesday's event marked the start of a period of "eruptive activity," requiring the alert level to be raised from yellow to orange. Since 1550, 25 eruptions have been recorded at Ubinas.

There are 40 volcanoes in Moquegua and the neighboring regions of Arequipa and Tacna, most of them dormant.