Nicaraguan volcano forces evacuations

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MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Emergency officials said they evacuated more than 300 families in Nicaragua because of increased activity of the San Cristobal Volcano.

Rosario Murillo, coordinator of the Consejo de Comunicacion y Ciudadania, said people within a radius of about a mile of the volcano were moved to shelters Wednesday. The volcano had been rumbling and emitting gas and ash up to 2,600 feet into the air, Cuba's official news agency, Prensa Latina, reported.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega activated the Municipal Committees of Prevention, Mitigation and Disaster Attention and ordered authorities to enforce the yellow alert.

At least 5,000 people were moved to shelters when the volcano erupted in September, when ash and gases were blasted more than 2 miles upward from the 5,700-foot mountain.