SANTIAGO - The Llaima volcano in southern Chile erupted on Tuesday, sending up a huge plume of smoke and coating the surrounding wilderness park with ash, forcing the evacuation of dozens of tourists.
Emergency officials said there were no reports of damages or injuries.
The volcano is in the Araucania region about 82km from the city of Temuco. Local television images showed a column of dark smoke visible from many kilometres away.
Before the eruption, people in the towns closest to the volcano said they had heard loud noises underground.
"We've ordered the evacuation of more than 100 tourists that were in the Conguillio reserve, where a lot of ash has fallen, Carmen Fernandez, director of Chile's National Emergency Office, said.
The emergency office said the volcano began erupting at 9.30pm and that lava was flowing down the eastern side of the mountain. An official at the emergency office said it was still unclear whether the eruption would be brief or sustained.
The 3125m Llaima volcano, one of Chile's most active, has frequent eruptions. - Reuters
Many are evacuated as volcano erupts in Chile
SANTIAGO - The Llaima volcano in southern Chile erupted on Tuesday, sending up a huge plume of smoke and coating the surrounding wilderness park with ash, forcing the evacuation of dozens of tourists.
Emergency officials said there were no reports of damages or injuries.
The volcano is in the Araucania region about 82km from the city of Temuco. Local television images showed a column of dark smoke visible from many kilometres away.
Before the eruption, people in the towns closest to the volcano said they had heard loud noises underground.
"We've ordered the evacuation of more than 100 tourists that were in the Conguillio reserve, where a lot of ash has fallen, Carmen Fernandez, director of Chile's National Emergency Office, said.
The emergency office said the volcano began erupting at 9.30pm and that lava was flowing down the eastern side of the mountain. An official at the emergency office said it was still unclear whether the eruption would be brief or sustained.
The 3125m Llaima volcano, one of Chile's most active, has frequent eruptions. - Reuters
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