LIMA, July 5 (Reuters) - Peru's government declared a 60-day state of emergency for several southern towns on Wednesday as the country's most active volcano spews ash and gas.
Ash from the Ubinas volcano in the Moquegua region some 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) southeast of the capital Lima, has risen to altitudes of 5,500 meters and has reached towns over 10 km away, the Geophysical Institute of Peru said.
Wednesday's emergency declaration allows the government to take "exceptional measures and actions" to counter risks from the Ubinas volcano.
The southern region of copper-producing Peru is home to some of the country's most important mines as well as a dozen active volcanoes.
Peru is located within the "Pacific Ring of Fire," an area with a high incidence of earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Persons:
Dina Boluarte, Marco Aquino, Carolina Pulice, Brendan O'Boyle, Grant McCool
Organizations:
Geophysical Institute of, National Civil Defense Institute, Ministers, Twitter, Thomson
Locations:
LIMA, Moquegua, Lima, Geophysical Institute of Peru, Peru's, Peru