An erupting volcano in southern Chile has spewed a 20km high plume of ash into the air that winds have blown into neighbouring Argentina.
The Chaiten volcano is a "cauldron" volcano that had been dormant for around 10,000 years. Situated 10km north east of the city of Chaiten, capital of the province of Palena in the Los Lagos region of Chile, it began erupting on the 2nd of May 2008, forcing officials to evacuate the vicinity.
Towns and villages in the Argentine Patagonian provinces of Chubut, Neuquen, Santa Cruz and Rio Negro have been covered in ash and the ashes were even blown as far as the province of Buenos Aires. In the city of Esquel, authorities trucked in 50,000 litres of water and three water-purifying plants to ensure supplies.
The Argentine Environment minister Romina Picolotti visited the worst hit areas. She said that the volcanic ashes were not toxic but insisted that residents wear dust masks being supplied by authorities.
Cauldron volcanoes generally grow and collapse in a constant state of eruption that can last for months. The ash has polluted the air and water in the surrounding area but it remains to be seen the extent to which it will affect agricultural, ranching and fishing activities further away.
So far, locals in the Argentine province of Chubut remain hopeful that the ash will not cause any lasting damage to the rivers but much will depend on factors such as wind direction in the coming months.
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