Chile’s Puyehue volcano explodes, unleashing massive ash cloud

June 4, 2011 – CHILE – A huge plume of smoke and ash from Puyehue volcano that is visible from Entre Lagos rises 10 km (6 miles) into the sky. The neighbors of that community have spotted the onset of eruptive activity conducted by the Sernageomin. The government issued an emergency Red Alert for the area surrounding the volcano. 600 people have been evacuated so far. -Soy Chile Below, day turns to night as ash cloud blocks the Sun. (text translated from Spanish)

LAGO RANCO, CHILE (BNO NEWS) — Authorities on Saturday ordered the emergency evacuation of more than 3,000 people after a volcano erupted in southeastern Chile, officials said. Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter said during a news conference that about 3,500 people would be evacuated after the Puyehue volcano in Ranco Province started to erupt. Initially, Chilean authorities ordered the evacuation of around 700 people. Pictures from nearby towns showed large clouds of volcanic ash rising from the volcano, which last erupted in 1960. A Red Alert in the region has been declared. –Wire update

Raw amateur video of the dramatic eruption