The country of Ecuador in South America is waiting patiently for the imminent eruption of the Tungurahua volcano, which has been spewing ash and smoke. Local authorities have already ordered the evacuation of more than 1,000 villagers who live near the foot of the volcano.

The evacuation of the roughly 300 families has been taken as a precautionary measure following the volcano's recent rumblings. The relocated families live in the ten hamlets located on the western slopes of the 5,000-meter volcano.

Representatives for the villagers are requesting that the government resettle the evacuated families in new locations so that they will not have to return to living in the danger zone.

The most recent reports from Ecuador's Geophysics Institute said that the volcano had been spewing ash, but that there was no sign of lava. However, it is expected to intensify over the next few days.

Tungurahua erupted twice in 2006, causing the death of at least four people and the evacuation of thousands of villagers. Tungurahua is located just 15km east of Ambato, Ecuador's fourth largest city, and is a steep-sided stratovolcano in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes.