Chile's Villarrica Volcano Erupts; 3,500 People Evacuated

Early Tuesday morning, authorities evacuated thousands in southern Chile after volcano Villarrica erupted around 3 a.m. local time. The volcano created a fiery spectacle as streams of lava poured down the mountainside and heavy smoke belched in the air.

Villarrica, one of South America’s most active volcanoes, prompted the National Emergency Office to issue a red alert and order the early morning evacuations. Photos from local media surfaced, displaying captivating images of the monster mountain glowing in the darkness, lava streaming and heavy smoke clouding the air. No injuries have been reported, however authorities are worried melting snow may trigger mudslides and endanger nearby communities.

The small city of Pucon, population about 22,000 people, sits in the shadow of the 9,000-foot volcano in Chile’s central valley. The area is 400 miles south of Santiago. Tourists flock to the area around Villarrica for outdoor activities like kayaking, horseback riding, fishing and hiking around the volcano, which last had a major eruption in 1984. Dozens of tourists were among those evacuated. Officials said late Tuesday that about 15,000 people living in rural areas near the volcano were suffering water shortages after the eruption and kept the red alert for nearby areas.

Link:http://www.weather.com/news/news/chile-villarrica-volcano-erupts