Saturday, June 4, 2011

Chile’s Puyehue Volcano Erupted, Forced Large Scale Evacuation

Picture taken in May 1960 of an eruption of Puyehue volcano (AFP/File)

SANTIAGO, Chile (June 5) – Large scale evacuation was forced due to eruption in Southern Chile’s Puyehue volcano for the first time in last 50 years, and smoke could be seen swirling into the sky, authorities said.

The explosion that sparked the volcanic eruption also produced a column of gas 10 kilometers (six miles) high, hours after warning of strong seismic activity in the area, the National Service of Geology and Mining reported.

Red alert warning has been issue by the authorities for the area. Initially government authorities arranged the evacuation of 600 people, expanded that number to 3,500 people to be relocated to shelters in safe areas.

Argentina-Chile border has also been closed temporarily due to eruption.

A huge cloud of ash could be spotted in the Patagonian resort town of Bariloche in Argentina, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of the volcano.

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