More than 1,500 people have been evacuated after a volcano in western Nicaragua erupted Saturday , shooting gas and ash 2 1/2 miles into the sky , government officials said . Explosions at San Cristobal Volcano -- located in the department of Chinandega about 65 kilometers ( 40 miles ) south of the Honduran border and 130 kilometers north of the capital , Managua -- began around 8:45 a.m. Saturday , according to an assessment from SINAPRED , Nicaragua 's federal emergency and disaster management agency . `` We have to be careful and take all appropriate measures for the families that are there and families from neighboring towns , '' first lady Rosario Murillo told the EL19 government-run newspaper . She said 400 families have been moved . Are you there ? Share your images and videos . `` I have seen it bring ashes , but not like now , '' Jose Espinoza , who lives near the volcano , said . `` It surprised us because it is a powerful volcano and to see it like this would make anyone panic . '' Jacinta Carazo , another resident , told CNN that an eruption in 2006 brought a lot of mud but this one was mostly ash . `` It got dark , '' she said . Neither Espinoza nor Carazo has evacuated nor do they want to leave . A story linked off Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega 's website indicated 20,000 people in surrounding towns could be affected . About 3,000 people in five communities were already seeing gases and other effects after three large explosions on Saturday , SINAPRED director Guillermo Gonzalez said , according to the El Pueblo Presidente website . Authorities say the main risk is the mix of rain , ash and gas that could affect the health of residents . School classes have been suspended in Chinandega department through Sunday , education official Jose Tremino said . At about 1,745 meters ( 5,725 feet ) , San Cristobal is Nicaragua 's tallest volcano , and is part of a complex consisting of five volcanic edifices , according to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History . Prior to Saturday , the last known eruption of San Cristobal -- which is also known as El Viejo -- was in 2011 , the museum said . How a supervolcano can threaten Earth .
Residents say the volcano spewed a lot of ash , darkened the sky . San Cristobal Volcano erupted last year , a government agency reports . 400 explosions send gas and ashes 130 kilometers into the sky . The volcano 's last known eruption was Saturday , the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History says .