Chile’s Villarrica volcano erupts, forcing 3,500 from their homes

The Villarrica volcano, one of South America’s most active volcanos, erupted early Tuesday in southern Chile, spewing heavy smoke into the air as lava surged down its slopes, prompting the Chilean National Emergency Office to issue a red alert and evacuate an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 people from their homes. Brilliant images of the eruption emerged as local media showed the volcano bursting at the top, glowing in the dark amid heavy smoke and rivers of lava. Chilean President MIchelle Bachelet said she would travel to the affected region immediately

I am calling for calm. We are monitoring and evaluating the situation closely.

President Michelle Bachelet

Villarrica, at 9,000-feet high (2,847-meter), is considered one of the most active volcanoes in all of South America, and draws crowds of tourists each year, with hikers climbing its slopes in the summer months to see inside its crater. Villarrica’s last major eruptions were in 1984 and 2000.

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