Chile’s Calbuco volcano shoots out new eruption of ash: 4,500 evacuated

The Calbuco volcano erupted again Thursday, sending dark bursts of ash and hot rock billowing 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) into the air and prompting Chilean officials to order a new evacuation of nearby residents.Thick clouds boiled out of 6,500-foot (2,000-meter) cone, bringing the threat of new, heavy ash fall over villagers struggling to clean up from two huge blasts last week. The surrounding area was evacuated after the volcano first erupted last Wednesday afternoon, but many people had begun to return to their ash-drowned homes.

We were working, cleaning the ash and sand from our homes when this third eruption took place. I feel so much anger and impotence it just breaks me apart.

Chilean resident Horacio Camano

More than 4,500 people have been evacuated since the Calbuco roared back to life April 22, sending ash about 11 miles (18 kilometers) into the sky. Hours later, it produced a second, spectacular outburst that turned the nighttime sky reddish orange.The ash from those eruptions spread across the southern part of the continent, disrupting flights all the way to Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, and causing widespread economic damage by turning cattle pastures barren and choking fish in one of the world’s top salmon-producing countries.

Americas Calbuco