The Calbuco volcano has erupted for the first time in more than 42 years, billowing a huge ash cloud over a sparsely populated, mountainous area in southern Chile.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of the 1,500 inhabitants of the nearby town of Ensenada yesterday, along with residents of two smaller communities.
The National Mining and Geology Service issued a high alert, barring access to the area around the volcano, which lies near the cities of Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, a little more than 1,000 kilometres south of Chile's capital, Santiago.
"For us it was a surprise," said Alejandro Verges, regional emergency director of the Los Lagos region where the eruption took place. He said Calbuco wasn't under any special form of observation.
Authorities said a large amount of ash was observed but no hot rocks or lava so far.
Calbuco last erupted in 1972 and is considered one of the top three most potentially dangerous among Chile's 90 active volcanos.
