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Eruption Leaves Chilean Town Deserted

By EDUARDO GALLARDO,
AP
Posted: 2008-05-03 19:39:46
Filed Under: World News
SANTIAGO, Chile (May 3) - The Chaiten volcano spewed light ash on a nearly deserted village Saturday, two days after its first eruption in thousands of years.

Photo Gallery

Christian Brown, Intendencia Regional de los Lagos / AP

'Get Everybody
Out of There'

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Thousands fled the town of Chaiten, Chile, after a volcano erupted there Thursday, the first time in thousands of years. Here, smoke and ash pour from Chaiten on Friday.

No more than 45 of Chaiten's 4,500 residents remained in what looked like a ghost town, its streets, houses, cars and trees draped with a thick layer of light-colored ash, Interior Minister Edmundo Perez said.

Those who decided to stay after Thursday's eruption could be seen wearing face masks outdoors in Chaiten, 750 miles south of the capital, Santiago. Street lights were illuminated under darkened skies.

Just six miles away, the volcano belched fat smoke plumes that at times rose as high as 12 miles into the air, the government's Emergency Bureau said.

Winds carried the ash to other towns in the region and across the Andes mountains to Argentina, where two airlines suspended flights due to poor visibility.

The Chaiten volcano has "probably been dormant for about 9,000 or 10,000 years but that's not unusual," said Charles Stern, a professor of volcanology at the University of Colorado who specializes in Andes volcanoes.

Photo Gallery

Santiago Llanquin, AP

Recent Volcano Eruptions

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Chile's Chaiten volcano erupted Saturday, setting off minor earthquakes and leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. On Tuesday, the activity intensified, with lava and ash shooting 12 miles into the sky. Click through the photos to see more volcanoes that have recently erupted.

Authorities evacuated most of Chaiten's residents to schools and churches in the nearby cities of Puerto Montt and Castro.

"It is very difficult to predict when the people will be able to return," Perez said. "This situation can last for days, or weeks - or longer."

Some residents were pessimistic.

"This could be the end of our town," community leader Leonardo Maureira told Radio Cooperativa of Santiago. "We have worked an entire life here and now all we could do was to put a few things in a bag and depart, leaving everything behind."

Others decided to stay.

"We have to protect our investment," said Nelson Alderete, a small shopkeeper, as he watched his wife and small daughter board a boat to Puerto Montt. "But if things get really ugly, I will leave."

Chaiten Mayor Jose Fritis said the town will not die.

"This has been a historic catastrophe for us, but we will rebuild from the ashes," he said.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-05-02 19:31:35
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Recent Comments

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2599 comments

bcarmen2006 11:46:28 PM May 08 2008

poor president Bush! Why to blame him for everything,he doesn't have all the power on his hand. God is the one in control. And besides We should not forget the generosity of our country. People be greatfull, and love our Nation.!

aklearglass 10:36:29 PM May 08 2008

THE EARTH IS JUST DOING WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS DONE...CHANGE.....
THERE ARE THOSE WHO HATE CHANGE BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WANT TO BE IN CONTROL.. STAND BACK, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THE EARTH'S GEOGRAPHIC CHANGES...WE ARE JUST ALONG FOR THE RIDE.... ADAPT.

tranquilrivers 08:30:27 PM May 07 2008

I believe the story is about a small town in Chile that is on the verge of being destroyed. In the story it mentions how **************** had minutes to pack up a lifetime of belongings. The story clearly states that there is a real possibility that these people will lose everything including their town. How sad, but even sadder the complete inability of any person to read and respond to the story. Every post had a completely off the topic irrelevant thought about: Bush hating, Oil Prices, petty opinions. It clearly shows the selfish nature of the people of this country.

sharonlynnb 07:08:17 PM May 05 2008

This is a warning, and I do expect you to pass this on to anyone who is anybody. Begin warning your family members first.
If you happen to be sitting at a red light, and another car hits your bumper, DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR!
The people in the car that hit your bumper are waiting for you to get out, then a group of men (women) will get out of their car, pull a gun out, and shoot you.
The motive... A GANG INITIATION, And IS HAPPENING IN MARYLAND!
I'm sure it will spread to other states across the country. You have to pass this on and fast. Make sure you type "Do Not Get Out Of Your Car!"
A Baltimore Woman On Wilkens Avenue
The Baltimore Media Is Failing The Citizens By Not Reporting It.

mrmoonlite5 12:46:07 PM May 05 2008

john is another bush WAR WAR WAR lets get the jobs and money back into THE USA

HILARRY ALL THE WAY

pdbliz 08:00:00 PM May 04 2008

BELEIVE OR BELEIVE NOT,,AT SOME POINT OF TIME,,YOU WILL BE A BELEIVER..
BUT,,WILL IT BE TOO LATE OR TOO EARLY,,,,BELEIVE OR BELEIVE NOT...

dkandmp 07:37:28 PM May 04 2008

shocklysmiles 01:00:49 PM May 04 2008

Report This! You're right. In the words of Duran Duran (I know, I know everyone loves to hate us) but In thier words - This is planet earth
******************
Not me, I will forever be a duranie. I've seen them about 10 times in concert now, and last time got to meet simon and roger. ;)

dkandmp 07:35:52 PM May 04 2008

thegreatrandini 02:49:15 PM May 04 2008

Report This! We have been sucking oil out of the ground for so long that there are vast empty space's that are filling with magma and will start coming to the surface in much greater eruption's, oil is like eath's cooling lubricant and we have screwed ourself's good by pumping so much of it out, time to pay for it.
*****************
Most geologic locations that are rich in oil, do not have volcanic activity nearby. Oil has nothing to do with tectonics or volcanology. Oil is a hydrocarbon that is formed mostly by decaying plants. Oil is not "earth's cooling lubricant."

hogsno1fan 04:08:33 PM May 04 2008

azeka3 09:06:16 AM May 04 2008

Report This! I believe OBAMA did this to show everyone the power he has. Bewear people he can do a lot with his MOJOE black magic.
*************************************************************************

Bewear ***** MOJOE **** I believe you need a some schooling.

cavalrie2 04:05:46 PM May 04 2008

matrixxxangel 01:20:09 PM May 04 2008

Report This! After 10,000 years? Adam and Eve didn't show up till 6.000 ago. Wow so who was recording history before then? lol"

You do understand that Adam and Eve (if they existed) did not record any history either, right?

1 - 10 of 2599
2599 comments

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Albert Einstein's letter dissing religion sells big at a London auction. Albert Einstein's letter dissing religion sells big at a London auction.
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