The ongoing eruption of a Peruvian volcano that has covered the surrounding countryside with ash has led to evacuations of both people and animals in its vicinity, officials say.

Thousands of people living in Querapi in the vicinity of Ubinas, the most active volcano in Peru, have had to leave their homes, they say.

"We are moving an estimated 4,000 people farther to secure their health against ash and smoke emissions," Minister of Agriculture Juan Benites said.

Meanwhile, some 28,000 llamas, alpacas and vicunas in herds in the Moquegua region have been moved after the volcano's activity layered the pastures with ash deposits.

The herds are a main source of income from many residents in the area.

Officials were fearful of a repeat of a 2006 eruption that also required the evacuation of thousands of people and killed large numbers of livestock feeding on grass contaminated with ash.

Other livestock representing important asset to local people, including cows, sheep, burrows and horses, are also being evacuated, officials said.

The volcano began erupting April 15, prompting the Peruvian government to declare a state of emergency in surrounding provinces.

The animal evacuations moved the llamas and alpacas to lower elevations in the region's mountains after they were unable to take advantage of natural grazing sites in the ash-affected areas.

Sixty tons of food will be hauled in to feed the animals, Peru's Agricultural Ministry said.

Reaching 18,609 feet, Ubinas has been in an active period the last decade, with eruptions recorded from 2006 to 2010 and now again. The last period of activity had ended in 1969, but the volcano has had a history of active periods dating back to 1550.

In its current eruptions Ubinas has spewed ash clouds as high as two miles above its summit, prompting a state of emergency officials say will likely be in place for at least 60 days.

The eruptions increased, becoming more intense and more frequent in the past few days, Orlando Macedo, head of the country's Geophysical Institute in Arequipa, said.

The volcano is located about 470 miles southeast of the Peruvian capital city of Lima.