MANAGUA, Aug. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The volcano Concepcion in the GreatLake of Nicaragua exploded, releasing ashes and gases and affecting areas in the south of the country, the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (INETER) said Tuesday.

    The volcano, located on Ometepe Island, explode Monday night. The ashes affected the island's localities of Moyogalpa, Esquipulas and Los Angeles, INETER said.

    Concepcion had resumed volcanic activity on July 28, and had produced quakes.

    On Aug. 3, a quake of 5.6 degrees on the Richter scale jolted areas south of Volcano Maderas, which injured four children and damaged 35 houses.

    Due to the series of seismic tremors in the zone, the civil defense authorities declared a state of "institutional green alert," which implies that the country's institutions have to stayaware of INETER information, and to take all the necessary measures. Enditem