Chilean Volcano
Chilean volcano belches ash, forces evacuation Smoke rises from the Chaiten volcano, May 2, 2008. The volcano in southern Chile spewed ash before dawn on Friday, triggering tremors 12 miles away and prompting evacuations, officials said.1
SANTIAGO, Chile — Authorities evacuated hundreds of people from villages in southern Chile Friday after a snow-capped volcano considered to have been dormant for thousands of years erupted. The blast sent minor earthquakes rippling through the region.2
Towns in the southern Argentine province of Chubut have also been affected with authorities closing schools and issuing road warnings due to low visibility. Chaiten is about 1300kms (780 miles) south of Santiago.3
Those who decided to stay after Thursday’s eruption could be seen wearing face masks outdoors in Chaiten, 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) south of the capital, Santiago. Street lights were illuminated under darkened skies.4
Earlier, military vehicles evacuated 54 visitors and Conguillio National Park workers threatened by the eruption while more than 165 local families fled the area around the volcano, the Emergency Bureau said. The agency said 43 tourists were among those evacuated.5
Those who decided to stay after Thursday’s eruption could be seen wearing face masks outdoors in Chaiten, 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) south of the capital, Santiago. Street lights were illuminated under darkened skies.6
Clouds of ash from the eruption also delayed flights at Neuquen airport, Aerolineas Argentinas, the country’s biggest carrier, said in an e-mailed statement. The ash may force delays at Argentina’s Viedma airport, the carrier said.7