A volcano has erupted in the Galapagos Islands, spewing rivers of lava toward the sea and sending columns of vapor and ash seven kilometers into the sky.
There are no human inhabitants on Fernandina Island where the volcano is located, and Ecuadorean officials are monitoring the situation to make sure the volcano does not threaten any rare animals or tourist areas.
Washington Tapia, director of the Galapagos National Park, said he does not think it will be necessary to take any security measures, and authorities will wait for nature to take its course.
The Galapagos Islands, about 1,000 kilometers off Ecuador's Pacific coast, are a popular tourist destination and are home to unique animal species that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.