Breaking: Total evacuation around volcano

[RB TexLa]

New evacuation as Chile volcano spews lava- report
06 May 2008 13:14:59 GMT
Source: Reuters
SANTIAGO, Chile, May 6 (Reuters) - Lava started to spew from an erupting volcano in southern Chile on Tuesday and authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of all remaining residents and journalists from a nearby town, local television reported

Chaiten volcano, around 760 miles (1,220 km) south of the capital of Santiago, began erupting on Friday, sending a towering plume of ash into the sky, which has since coated the surrounding area and reached as far as neighboring Argentina.

Authorities have already evacuated around 4,200 people, or nearly the whole population, from the town of Chaiten, six miles (10 km) from the volcano. On Tuesday, they ordered all remaining people in Chaiten to leave immediately.

They are also evacuating a second town, Futaleufu, which lies around 810 miles (1,300 km) south of the capital Santiago. The area is some distance from Chile's vital mining industry farther north. (With reporting by Simon Gardner and Antonio de la Jara and Monica Vargas; Editing by Doina Chiacu)



http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N06464336.htm

[gatorboy]

1. Where's Joe when you need him?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Oh my

I'm glad they were able to evacuate the people. Wonder how bad the eruption will be, and whether earthquakes will be triggered by it?

[malaise]

3. We saw this on BBC last night

<snip>
The eruption of the Chaiten volcano caught local authorities by surprise, as experts say it has been dormant for at least 450 years.
-
That struck us.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7381652.stm



More pix
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7381702.stm

[RB TexLa]

4. The web report seemed old, either no new info online or my AP alert was slow

either way, scary stuff.

[malaise]

5. The eruption started on Friday night

Very scary