National defense officials say about 80 homes sustained damage from the strongest of more than 500 tremors that jolted the area on February 22 and 23.

The country’s geophysical agency Ingemmet says the 20,000-foot volcano has been spewing huge smoke trails intermittently since January 15.

It compares the current seismic activity to that which preceded an eruption in 1986.

During that eruption, acid rain and ash caused residents to complain of eye and breathing problems. Livestock were also suffered.

Sabancaya, which means “tongue of fire” in the native Quechua language, was dormant for 200 years before roaring back to life several times in the 1980s and 1990s.

It has only produced small eruptions since that time.

Sabancaya is located about 60 miles from the city of Arequipa, one of Peru's three largest cities. Arequipa was recently hit by heavy rains and flash flooding.

Photo: Ingemmet