Alert status raised to orange after first eruptions of Colombia's Purace volcano in decades

Colombia's Geological Service raised an alert status after the Purace Volcano erupted for the first time in decades.

The orange level alert was issued as footage was released showing ash and smoke spewing from the volcano near the city of Popayan.

Jaime Raigosa, the Coordinator of the Vulcanological and Seismic Observatory of Popayan, said on Tuesday the volcano last erupted in 1977.

He said ash was blown as far away as Popayan, located about 28 kilometres (17 miles) away, in recent days, triggering officials to raise the alert level.