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Chile Volcano Eruption Sends Lava Shooting Into The Sky, Thousands Evacuated From Surrounding Area

By Cassie Boss
Published on: 01:21 PST, Mar 3, 2015

A Chile volcano eruption sent lava shooting into the night sky, and while the images are stunning, thousands had to be evacuated from the surrounding areas.

According to ABC News, the National Emergency Office issued a red alert and ordered evacuations around 3 a.m. local time, as Chile’s Villarrica volcano erupted. The eruption reportedly sent not only heavy smoke into the air, but also triggered an explosion which sent lava spewing.

Accuweather stated that local media reported that lightning also accompanied the volcano during the violent eruption, and that the eruption was so large that it was seen as far away as Temuco, Chile, located some 62 miles away.

Many in the area took to social media to display videos and photos of the Villarrica volcano eruption.

BBC has reported that over 3,000 people have been evacuated from the volcano’s vicinity. Increased volcano activity on Monday warranted officials to issue an orange alert and according to a statement by Interior and Security Minister Rodrigo Penailillo, both locals and tourists were evacuated.

President Michelle Bachelet will reportedly be visiting the areas hit by the volcano’s eruption sometime Tuesday, and has asked for residents to remain calm.

Accuweather went on to say that the biggest impact of Chile’s volcano eruption may be the volcanic ash “that is carried by upper level winds” and “carried across parts of South America.”

“It looks as though whatever ash there is should pass well south of Buenos Aires and mostly across the more sparsely populated parts of Argentina,” said Accuweather‘s Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.

The volcano stands around 9,000 feet tall and is reportedly located in Chile’s central valley some 400 miles south of Santiago.

BBC reported that according to Chile’s Ministry of Mining, Chile’s Villarrica volcano’s last major eruption took place back in 1985. Villarrica is also reportedly one of Chile’s most active volcanoes, with increased activity reported in the past month according to ABC News.

Stay with the Inquisitr as more information on Chile’s volcano eruption becomes available.

[Image via Twitter]

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