Thousands flee as Chile volcano erupts, spews ash and smoke
Digital Reporter
Thursday, April 23, 2015, 9:19 AM - After sitting dormant for nearly 50 years, Chile's Calbuco volcano erupted for the second time in a day, prompting evacuations and a state of emergency to be declared. So far there are no reports of deaths, missing persons or injuries.
The volcano erupted for the first time in more than a half century, sending a thick plume of ash and smoke over 12 miles into the sky. Video shows the first eruption, which occurred around 6 p.m. local time. The video shows the moment the Calbuco Volcano erupted in southern Chile on Wednesday, captured by an airport camera in the nearby city of Puerto Montt.
Not once, but twice the volcano erupted. At around 1 a.m. a more deeper and powerful pulsar activity rocked the area.
Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet declared a state of emergency in the area following the initial eruption, which occurred 600 miles south of the capital, Santiago.
About 1,500 people were being moved out of the area and an evacuation radius of 20 km has been established.
In a televised address, Chile's Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said the military was being sent into Llanquihue province to help evacuate residents and keep things in order. Water has been sent in, according to Penailillo, due to the risk of water contamination.
Authorities are concerned about a pyroclastic flow, a superheated current of gas and rock that can rapidly sweep down from a volcano, destroying nearly everything in its path.
LATAM Airlines said it has cancelled flights in the area due to the presence of volcanic ash, which can potentially damage aircraft and make flying dangerous.
The 6, 500ft-tall Volcano Calbuco saw its last major eruption in 1961.
Television pictures showed a spectacular mushroom-shaped column billowing into the sky with occasional flashes of lightning – due to the build of electric charge as rocks and ash rub together.
Chile, on the Pacific "Rim of Fire," has the second largest chain of volcanoes in the world after Indonesia, including around 500 that are potentially active. Calbuco is ranked third most dangerous out of the 90 volcanoes in the country.
-- With files from Meteorologist Chris Burton, The Weather Network UK
SOURCE: Al Jazeera
