A volcano in Nicaragua erupted Wednesday with a mighty blast and a column of ash, then quieted down again, the government said.

No one was hurt but villagers near the Telica volcano in the northwest of the Central American nation were told to remain on alert.

The mountain is about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) tall.

The morning blast spewed ash 50 meters (165 feet) into the air, said Guillermo Gonzalez of the National System for Preventing and Mitigating Disasters.

After the single blast, civil defense staff remained on site to gather information.

Villagers were put on alert and told to protect their water and food sources.