BOGOTA, Colombia - The Colombian government on Tuesday ordered the evacuation of 9,000 people living on the slopes of the Galeras volcano near the border with Ecuador which scientists say could erupt soon.
"We want vulnerable people to leave high-risk areas," said the head of Colombia's Emergencies Office, Eduardo Jose Gonzalez.
Scientists monitoring tremors within Galeras, which is just outside the southern city of Pasto, say it could erupt within days or weeks.
The government will pay evacuees about $40 a month to help with renting temporary accommodation. But some peasants have told local television they do not believe the warnings and will refuse to leave their smallholdings.
There was a minor eruption in Galeras in November, with little effect on surrounding populations. In 1993, another small eruption killed 10 scientists who had climbed up to its crater.
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