New evacuation as Chile volcano spews lava- report

Tue May 6, 2008 9:14am EDT
 
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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)




 

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