Volcano Eruption Forces Thousands to Evacuate

A volcano eruption in southern Chile sends a ton of ash over the Andes, closing down a local airport.

More than 3,500 people had to evacuate Saturday when one of the volcanos in the Caulle Cordon of southern Chile erupted, creating a rift more than 10 kilometres long and five kilometres wide in the earth's crust. The area had been put on high alert after a series of earthquakes began in the afternoon, with a recorded 230 tremors an hour. The Argentine town of San Carlos de Bariloche had to close its airport due to high winds blowing the ash over the Andes. Residents there have been advised to stock up on food and water due to a prolonged ash fall. The eruption occurred 1,000 kilometres south of Santiago, Chile's national capital.