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Source: http://www.patagoniatimes.cl/content/view/579/1/
VOLCANO ERUPTION PROMPTS RED ALERT IN CHILE
Written by Thom?s Rothe
Friday, 04 July 2008
New eruptions from southern Chile's Llaima volcano forced Chile\s government to declare a ?Red Alert? Thursday for residents of nearby towns. The advancing lava flow is 50 meters wide and has already stretched more than 2 kilometers down the volcano?s slopes.
According to Chile?s National Emergency Office (ONEMI), the lava does not immediately threaten residents of the area but is headed directly towards the Calbuco River. Melting ice from the summit of the volcano could mix with the lava, reach the river and make it overflow, endangering the surrounding areas.
The Region IX volcano began to spit out lava early Tuesday morning after being dormant for six months. ONEMI initially declared an optional Yellow Alert evacuation for nearby residents. However, with Thursday's new eruptions, the agency began forcing residents to leave the towns of La Selva, Danubio and Las Mercedes and the Las Araucarias Ski Center.
Clear weather has allowed authorities to conduct flyovers to evaluate the situation at the volcano?s crater. ONEMI officials reported that there are two sources spouting smoke from the crater. Both columns of smoke ? one white and the other a light gray color ? are blowing eastward.
?The incident is more or less similar to what happened in February (Laima's last eruption), when lava came down on the same side of the volcano,? ONEMI volcano specialist Juan Cayupi told the Chilean daily La Naci?n. ?But you can also see a dark stain on the side of the volcano, which indicates that a bit of ash has been falling.?
Cayupi explained that if more ash were to fall, it could contaminate air and possibly the Calbuco River. Still, he said the chances were slim and that the government evacuated the people closest to the volcano because of possible respiratory dangers.
ONEMI Director Carmen Fern?ndez joined ONEMI personnel on site Thursday morning in Cherquenco to discuss further possible preventive actions. ONEMI says it has taken all the necessary action to prevent a situation similar to what occurred when Region X?s Chait?n volcano erupted. The Chait?n eruption destroyed the city of the same name with intense ash fall and subsequent floods (ST, May 2).
Region IX?s ONEMI office reports that 24 people remain in areas near the volcano. Local police and Chilean army officers remain on guard blocking access to the volcano to anyone who is not a part of emergency teams.
SOURCE: LA NACI?N
By Thom?s Rothe
VOLCANO ERUPTION PROMPTS RED ALERT IN CHILE
Written by Thom?s Rothe
Friday, 04 July 2008
New eruptions from southern Chile's Llaima volcano forced Chile\s government to declare a ?Red Alert? Thursday for residents of nearby towns. The advancing lava flow is 50 meters wide and has already stretched more than 2 kilometers down the volcano?s slopes.
According to Chile?s National Emergency Office (ONEMI), the lava does not immediately threaten residents of the area but is headed directly towards the Calbuco River. Melting ice from the summit of the volcano could mix with the lava, reach the river and make it overflow, endangering the surrounding areas.
The Region IX volcano began to spit out lava early Tuesday morning after being dormant for six months. ONEMI initially declared an optional Yellow Alert evacuation for nearby residents. However, with Thursday's new eruptions, the agency began forcing residents to leave the towns of La Selva, Danubio and Las Mercedes and the Las Araucarias Ski Center.
Clear weather has allowed authorities to conduct flyovers to evaluate the situation at the volcano?s crater. ONEMI officials reported that there are two sources spouting smoke from the crater. Both columns of smoke ? one white and the other a light gray color ? are blowing eastward.
?The incident is more or less similar to what happened in February (Laima's last eruption), when lava came down on the same side of the volcano,? ONEMI volcano specialist Juan Cayupi told the Chilean daily La Naci?n. ?But you can also see a dark stain on the side of the volcano, which indicates that a bit of ash has been falling.?
Cayupi explained that if more ash were to fall, it could contaminate air and possibly the Calbuco River. Still, he said the chances were slim and that the government evacuated the people closest to the volcano because of possible respiratory dangers.
ONEMI Director Carmen Fern?ndez joined ONEMI personnel on site Thursday morning in Cherquenco to discuss further possible preventive actions. ONEMI says it has taken all the necessary action to prevent a situation similar to what occurred when Region X?s Chait?n volcano erupted. The Chait?n eruption destroyed the city of the same name with intense ash fall and subsequent floods (ST, May 2).
Region IX?s ONEMI office reports that 24 people remain in areas near the volcano. Local police and Chilean army officers remain on guard blocking access to the volcano to anyone who is not a part of emergency teams.
SOURCE: LA NACI?N
By Thom?s Rothe