Authorities in south-west Colombia are on alert after the Nevado del Huila volcano started spewing ash on Wednesday morning.
Government officials asked the locals living around the volcano to prepare for evacuation in case the country's official geology institute Ingeominas issues a red alert.
Geologists permanently monitor the volcano's activity. The 17,600 foot Nevado del Huila erupted last in November 2008, causing an avalanche that killed ten people.
