Nicaragua's San Cristobal volcano covered in a shroud of smoky grey ash.<br/> <br />On Saturday, the volcano, just north of capital Managua, blasted a 5-km high ash plume into the atmosphere.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) JOSE RAMON MADARIAGA, LOCAL MAN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Well, San Cristobal volcano exploded like a cork that flew upward, and the puff of smoke blew into the air."<br/> <br />The ashy eruption prompted hundreds of nearby residents to leave the area.<br/> <br />The government expects to evacuate 3,000 from their homes and has raised the alert level to yellow.<br/> <br />San Cristobal is one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua's Pacific Coast and a major eruption could affect up to 20,000 people.
