Explosive eruptions shook two huge volcanos in Central and South America, forcing thousands to flee their homes and disrupting air traffic as ash drifted over major cities.

A car bomb ripped open cars and storefronts in the administrative centre of Colombia’s Pacific port of Buenaventura, killing six people and wounding more than 30, authorities said.

Voter turnout in Russia’s presidential election exceeded the 50% threshold needed to make the vote valid, Russian news agencies quoted Central Election Commission chief Alexander Veshnyakov as saying hours before polls closed today.