El Salvador begins volcano evacuations

Evacuations have begun around El Salvador's Chaparrastique volcano after the peak shot a cloud of gas and ash about five kilometres high.

A cross of the Catholic church of Las Placitas is seen in front of the crater of the Chaparrastique volcano. (Getty Images)

Authorities in El Salvador have begun evacuating an area around the Chaparrastique volcano after the peak shot a cloud of gas and ash about five kilometres high.

The country's Environment Ministry says the eruption happened early on Sunday.

The spokesman for El Salvador's Red Cross says evacuations have been ordered for residents within about three kilometres of the peak.

Carlos Lopez Mendoza says there have been no reports of injuries, despite a "quite strong explosion".

The 2129-metre volcano is about 145 kilometres east of San Salvador, the capital. It last erupted in 1976.