Chile volcano erupts for first time in decades

PUERTO VARAS, CHILE: A volcano in Chile that had been inactive for over 50 years suddenly erupted twice in the space of hours, blasting huge clouds of ash into the air and forcing the evacuation of around 5,000 people.

There were no immediate reports of injuries after the eruptions from the Calbuco volcano in southern Chile late Wednesday and again before sunrise on Thursday.

However, one person -- a 21-year old mountain climber who was in the vicinity at around the time of the eruption -- has been reported missing.

View from Puerto Varas, southern Chile, of a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano, on April 22, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

A state of emergency was declared after the first eruption, and air traffic was disrupted.

Chilean TV aired spectacular footage of ash, bright orange flames and flaming rocks belching from the mouth of the volcano.

As far away as southern Argentina, a fine layer of ash settled on roadways and buildings, and officials urged residents to stay indoors as a health precaution.

View from Puerto Varas, southern Chile, of a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano, on April 22, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

The first eruption, lasting nearly 90 minutes, spewed a giant mushroom of ash 10 kilometers (six miles) into the sky.

Chile has about 90 active volcanoes, of which Calbuco is the second to erupt since early March.

Officials ordered an evacuation for a 21-kilometer radius around the volcano and the interior ministry rushed in the army to temporarily take control of the province of Llanquihue and the town of Puerto Octay.

The National Geology and Mining Service said the volcano might start oozing lava, raising the possibility of mountain-top snow and ice melting, causing floods and raising water levels in rivers.

It said a third eruption was likely over the next few hours.

President Michelle Bachelet said she would travel to the affected area Thursday along with several ministers.

View from Puerto Varas, southern Chile, of a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano, on April 22, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

"The ash might damage crops, animal feed, bridges, roads, people's work routines, tourism and especially their health," Bachelet said.

On a 0-8 scale measuring volcano eruption strength, the first one came in at four or five, Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said.

The second one was just about as powerful, the ministry said.

Until minutes before the blast, volcano eruption monitoring systems had picked up nothing. In fact, volcano watchers in Chile had been watching another one, Villarica also in the south, for a possible eruption.

Emergency measures were also in place in Argentina, where the picturesque city of Bariloche -- about 100 kilometers from the volcano -- warned people to stay at home to avoid inhaling dust particles from the volanic ash.

Classes in Bariloche were cancelled for Thursday. At hospitals, staff shifts were rearranged to deal particularly with ash from Chile.

The Chilean geology service that much of the ash from the volcano was in fact headed for Argentina.

Puerto Montt, over the border from Bariloche and the largest Chilean city in the area, was already blanketed in a cloud of ash.

"People are very, very frightened," said Gervoy Paredes, mayor of Puerto Montt.

"The situation is pretty complicated," he added, saying reports indicated the Blanco river was flooding because of ice melt triggered by the eruption.

Airlines canceled flights as the towering ash cloud rose from Calbuco's snowy peak and schools also suspended classes in the region.

View from Puerto Varas, southern Chile, of a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano, on April 22, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

Television footage showed large traffic jams and long lines at gas stations in Puerto Montt, where a red alert was declared, along with nearby Puerto Varas.

"I would like to call on the population to remain calm and stay informed," Penailillo said.

Police called on residents to keep roads as clear as possible to aid the evacuation.

It was a "rather explosive eruption," said Gabriel Orozco, a volcanologist at the National Geology and Mining Service.

He said the 10-kilometer-high ash cloud risked collapsing, and warned: "River beds are very dangerous at the moment" because of the risk of ice and snow melting and causing floods.

The 2,000-meter (6,500-foot) volcano is located in the Los Lagos region, some 1,400 kilometers south of the capital Santiago.

View from Puerto Varas, southern Chile, of a high column of ash and lava spewing from the Calbuco volcano, on April 22, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

It is the second volcano in southern Chile to have a substantial eruption since March 3, when the Villarrica volcano emitted a brief but fiery burst of ash and lava.

That eruption caused authorities to evacuate more than 3,500 people.

No lava was seen in the latest eruption, which began around 6:00 pm (2100 GMT).

But the ash cloud, which could be seen from 20 kilometers away, loomed over the crater, turning hues of pink and yellow as the sun set late Wednesday over the area.