Chile volcano update
Friday, 09 May 2008 10:29
Chile's Chaiten volcano saw an escalation of activity yesterday, forcing the last residents and military personnel to be evacuated from the remote Patagonian region.
There was a big explosion during the night and fiery volcanic material was spewed from the mountain.
Thick clouds of sulphurous ash have spread across the southern tip of South America.
The volcano, which has been inactive for over 9,000 years, began erupting on Tuesday May 6th and thousands of residents have been evacuated by boat.
Chaiten is located 1,300kms south of Santiago near the border with Argentina and is only accessible by boat or by air.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continues to strongly recommend visitors avoid the affected areas, including Puerto Montt, Chaiten and Futaleufu.
The Chilean authorities are on full alert in the area and Reuters has reported experts as saying the volcano could continue to be active for years.