The San Cristobal volcano began spewing ash and gas forcing the Nicaraguan government to evacuate around 3,000 residents from around the mountain.

Government officials say that up to 20,000 people could be displaced by the volcano. The volcano began to erupt on Saturday morning following the sound of violent explosions on the mountain. A 2.5 mile column of smoke and ash is being seen coming from the top of the mountain.

The volcano is the highest mountain in Nicaragua and one of the most active volcanoes along the country’s Pacific coast.

Nicaragua’s Institute of Territorial Studies reported “strong activity” in the volcano which last had a formal eruption in 2008.

Nicaragua’s government has been heavily monitoring action since last week’s major earthquake in Costa Rica.