Tungurahua, which means "throat of fire" in the native Quichua language, is a volcano 80 miles (130 km) south of the capital, Quito. It last erupted in August 2006 and has been rumbling and belching up rock, gas and ash this week.

Volcanologists expect stronger activity from Tungurahua because it is in the middle of an eruption cycle that began in 1999 after decades of inactivity.

Marino and more than 200 people, mostly peasants, from her hamlet Cusua fled their homes during the last eruption and settled in tiny prefabricated shelters next to the highway in Pingue.

In 2006, streams of fast-moving molten rock and ash enveloped several hamlets tucked in the volcano's folds, killing four people and forcing thousands to evacuate and lose their corn and potato crops.

"You only sleep here, but everybody heads up there during the day to make a living," said 40-year-old Marcos Guerrero, wearing rubber boots and ready to work as the 16,460-foot (5,020-metre) volcano billowed huge plumes of ash in the background.