Copyright © 1999 Nando Media
> Copyright © 1999 Agence France-Press
>
> QUITO, Ecuador (October 7, 1999 11:38 a.m. EDT
> http://www.nandotimes.com) - The Guagua Pichincha volcano spouted
> boiling water and ash into the sky as it erupted three times Thursday,
> putting the capital in almost total darkness.
>
> Officials said they expected "several tons of ash" to fall in Quito as
> a result of the latest eruptions.
>
> Work stopped as people ran to windows and onto balconies to watch the
> spectacular phenomenon as a mushroom-shaped cloud formed high in the
> sky. Guagua Pichincha, six miles west of Quito erupted for the second
> time in a week at 7:12 a.m. local time, to be blown by strong winds
> into shapes across the sky.
>
> Moments later, the city was thrown into half-light as the cloud
> covered the capital where 1.5 million people live. Eight minutes later
> another strong eruption hit, followed by a third, less intense, at
> 8:07 a.m. local time.
>
> Alexandra Alvarado, head of the Guagua Pichincha surveying team at the
> state Geophysics Institute of the National Polytechnic School, told
> AFP that the eruption was "one of the strongest" to date, adding that
> it would take a few hours for ash to start to settle over the capital.
>
> "These eruptions do not indicate there is going to be a major
> eruption," she said.
>
> Quito has been warily watching the rumbling 15,700-foot volcano since
> it recently became active after a 340-year slumber. The first eruption
> came last Tuesday, covering Quito and surrounding areas in 5,000 tons
> of ash.
>
> An elderly man died from suffocation, and four people suffered severe
> breathing difficulties, while another seven temporarily lost
> consciousness.
>