Authorities in Banos, a town at the base of the volcano, said trade and tourism are continuing as normal despite an eruption that has lasted nearly a month.
Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano produced several blasts that extended the mountain’s current eruptive phase, which began on Jan. 5.
"The volcano's activity ... continues to be high, characterized by constant gas and ash emission, and the number of the explosions persists," said vulcanologist Santiago Arellano.
While eruptions there in 2006 killed six people and destroyed thousands of acres of crops, the latest explosions have attracted a large number of tourists rather than scaring them away, according to local officials.
