Mexico's 'Volcano of Fire' erupts, forcing evacuation of hundreds

Mexico's Fire Volcano, also known as the Colima Volcano, blasts ash and smoke into the night sky.

A large ash cloud is seen after an eruption at Colima Volcano, western Mexico. Source: EFE

Mexico's most active volcano, the Fire volcano spewed smoke and ash into the night sky, prompting the evacuation of a nearby hamlet as lava poured down its flank.

The grainy black and white images captured an intense explosion after which ash spewed from its crater. The activity at this volcano in Colima began on Thursday.

Authorities have taken preventative measures and evacuated residents within a five-kilometre (three-mile) radius of the volcano's peak after lava was observed coming down its flanks.

The Fire Volcano was most recently active in January and February of 2015 but altogether no civil protection actions have been warranted thus far.