A volcano in Chile erupted for the first time in 42 years Wednesday, causing a huge ash cloud to disperse and forcing the evacuation of 1,500 people in a nearby town.
The Calbuco volcano, located in southern Chile, is considered one of the most potentially dangerous volcanoes in the country, but at the time of its eruption it wasn’t under any special kind of observation, according to regional emergency director Alejandro Verges. Before Wednesday, it hadn’t erupted since 1972.
A timelapse video from Rodrigo Barrera captures Calbuco’s eruption.
After the volcano erupted, Chile’s National Mining and Geology Service called for the evacuation of 1,500 citizens in nearby Ensenada. Water is being sent to the region in case existing resources become contaminated by volcanic ash.
Carabineros realiza sobrevuelo por el volcán Calbuco a bordo del avión institucional C-55, Sección Aérea Pto Montt pic.twitter.com/Ngc5dRvhcy
— Carabineros de Chile (@Carabdechile) April 23, 2015
Volcano #Calbuco erupts in Southern #Chile, prompting evacuations within 10km (pic: @raulpalma) pic.twitter.com/yC4valpdeU
— Dan Smith (@0DanSmith) April 22, 2015
Authorities monitoring the eruption spotted ash nearby, but they did not see hot rocks or lava from the volcano on Wednesday, and no injuries had been reported.
By nightfall on Wednesday, photographs showed lava and lightning coming from Calbuco.
URGENTE | Erupción del Volcán Calbuco en Chile. Alerta roja, evacuados, complicaciones y cenizas en la Patagonia. pic.twitter.com/oz1yG27BVv
— METRA – Meteorología de la República Argentina (@METRArgentina) April 23, 2015
Calbuco and Villarrica volcans actived on south of Chile.
— Julio XQ3OP (@XQ3OP) April 23, 2015
People was evacuated arround 20 km of Calbuco pic.twitter.com/HMCAAz9Z0u
Although people in the volcano’s immediate path were evacuated, others reported seeing the eruption as far as 30 miles away. Because they were not in imminent danger, they documented the eruption, leading to the breathtaking photos seen here.
Many of those photographing Calbuco hadn’t seen it erupt in their lifetimes, and it’s possible that it might not erupt again for decades.
The pictures are jaw-dropping and terrifying.
It's happening right now, Volcano Calbuco, Chile. pic.twitter.com/Ij7vCkau96
— Marichi Valeros (@marichivalero) April 22, 2015
La cagada. Volcán Calbuco. Ahora. #PuertoMontt pic.twitter.com/S3TywyMvc1
— Mauricio (@ztarkan) April 22, 2015
#Fotogalería La erupción del volván Calbuco en Chile | http://t.co/BucuVBx7BQ pic.twitter.com/11fed6aA29
— El Economista (@eleconomista) April 23, 2015
https://www.instagram.com/p/1yy7OOPUTY/
https://twitter.com/javcollao/status/591022495689478145
EN VIVO: continuamos con transmisión ininterrumpida del #Calbuco en Radio @biobio Puerto Montt http://t.co/SFmayxnw2r pic.twitter.com/1mtcinQmFn
— BioBioChile (@biobio) April 23, 2015
H/T New York Times | Screengrab via Rodrigo Barrera/YouTube