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Colombia's government has closed a second airport after the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Washington issued an ash cloud advisory for the Nevado Del Ruiz Volcano, which Colombian authorities have been saying for weeks is probably getting ready to erupt.

An official with the civil aviation authority Aerocivil said the Matecana Airport in the city of Pereira was closed Wednesday "as a precaution" due to continued ash clouds in Colombia's central, coffee-growing region, located just west of the volcano. The nearby Nubia airport in Manizales has been closed since the beginning of June after the Ruiz Volcano began rumbling and spewing gas and ash.

Hundreds of flights have already been canceled, suspended or diverted due to closing of the airport in Manizales.

Airlines affected by the airport closures include Avianca, the main carrier in the airline group AviancaTaca Holding SA (PFAVTA.BO), Lan Colombia, part of the Chilean flagship carrier LAN Airlines SA (LFL, LAN.SN), and Copa Colombia, part of the Panamanian airline group Copa Holdings (CPA).

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