A volcano in eastern El Salvador erupted Sunday, forcing more than 1,600 into emergency shelters and thousands to evacuate their homes, Reuters reported.

The Chaparrastique volcano, located about 87 miles east of the capital San Salvador, spewed hot ash over a wide area known for its coffee plantation, prompting authorities to order evacuation in the area and "snarling travel in the Central American country as airlines canceled flights," CNN reported. No major injuries or damage were reported.

The volcano eruption began at 10:30 a.m. and sent a dark cloud of gas and ash approximately 3.1 miles high, CNN reported citing the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

"We are not certain there will be new eruptions, but we can't rule out that possibility either," President Mauricio Funes said in a televised address, according to CNN.

Funes reportedly urged residents near the volcano in the department of San Miguel to leave their homes and head to shelters.

Armando Vividor, civil protection official, told Reuters some 5,000 people lived around the volcano.

"The evacuations began almost right after the explosion," Vividor said.

The volcano spewed ash over a wide area and the smell of sulfur hung over surrounding towns, Reuters reported.

According to emergency services, 1,635 people are in seven temporary shelters, emergency services said. Some residents located on the volcano's slopes have refused to leave, Reuters reported.

As a result of the volcano eruption, more than 36 international flights into and out of El Salvador were suspended, the airport and airlines told Reuters.

The volcano continues to belch more ash and gases the day after its big eruption, El Salvador's environment ministry said on its Twitter page.

"The Chaparrastique volcano is still producing gases combined with small emissions of ash, which is normal after an eruption," they tweeted.

El Salvador has 23 active volcanoes; Chaparrastique is considered one of the most active, with 26 eruptions in the last 500 years, according to the environment ministry.

In a 1976 eruption, lava gushed from the Chaparrastique volcano. The volcano shook violently in another event in 2010.