Authorities still suspended ascents of Cotopaxi, which is popular with mountaineers.
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Several towns and river settlements in Cotopaxi province, some 45 kilometres south of the capital Quito, were cleared, Secretariat for Risk Management head Pablo Morillo said.
Government scientists said the 5,987-metre snow-capped volcano did not seem to be on the verge of a major eruption.
The two explosions on Friday, as well as an expulsion of ash, surprised nearby residents, but authorities stressed the activity did not mean the volcano was about to erupt.
The Andean country’s highest active volcano has been showing signs of activity since April, and Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute said Friday’s explosions were small.
Preparations are underway in nearby areas like Quito, which is home to 2.3 million, for the distribution of surgical masks. A yellow alert has been raised, meaning people do not need to evacuate but residents are instructed to take caution.
Several villages in Ecuador have been evacuated as the risky Cotopaxi volcano rumbles to life, while thecountry’s president declares a state of emergency. The civil aviation directorate also announced that airports in Quito and Cotopaxi are still fully operational.
“The situation merits the population staying informed about what’s happening with the volcano”, said Ramon. Brian Manzano, a local hotel receptionist, described the first thing he saw when he looked outside: “when I got up, I opened the door of the hotel and saw a auto covered in ash”.
An eruption of Cotopaxi is considered by the Geophysics Institute as very unsafe as the volcano is located close to places where there are many people.
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After years of inactivity, the volcano began belching out pyroclastic flow which could potentially cause lahars.
