The authorities in Peru say they are evacuating people living near the Ubinas volcano, in the south of the country, because of increased activity.

Ubinas, Peru’s most active volcano, recently began spewing ash clouds up to 4km high, BBC Russian Service reported.

Officials said it would take three days to move the local residents to safer grounds.

An eruption of cinder and toxic gases in 2006 killed livestock and forced a similar evacuation.

Last week, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the provinces closest to the volcano.

The Ubinas volcano is 5,672-meter high.