Chaitén Volcano erupted early Friday morning
Photo by Pablo Schlegel

Authorities Clarify That Chaitén, Not Michimahuida, Erupted Friday

A volcano in southern Chile has awoken for the first time in recorded history, spewing a massive billow of ash that was visible as far away as Puerto Montt, some 150 kilometres to the north.

The 950-meter Chaitén Volcano, which lies approximately 10 kilometers from a town of the same name (Region X), began erupting early Friday morning. Smoke and ash from the eruption has made transit along Route 7 impossible, isolating Chaitén’s approximately 7,000 residents. Chaitén is a small coastal town located directly opposite the island of Chiloé.

“Ash began spewing out before the eruption and continues to do so,” said vulcanologist Luis Lara of Chile’s National Geologic and Mining Service (SERNAGEOMIN). “This ash can cause some serious problems. It’s not good to breathe these particles. Also, if too much accumulates, it can cause physical damage to homes, for example.”

Chaiten covered in several centimeters of ash
Photo courtesy of Victor González

So far approximately five centimeters of ash have collected in Chaitén, which according to city councillor Victor González was completely unprepared for the emergency.

“There are problems with lack of water,” he said. “The people are very worried. Many people are heading toward Palena, but the rest can’t go anywhere because we’re isolated. There are waiting lists for people trying to get out by boat. Planes can’t take off because of visibility problems.”

“Really, there’s nothing to do except conserve water and not go out in to the street,” he added. “The city’s dark. To face the problem there should been concrete measures, like distributing water and masks. The Navy should have ordered more ships to be here, because they take four or five, sometimes up to seven hours to reach here.”

The eruption has also affected the town of Futaleufu, located approximately 60 kilometers south-west.

“Ash from this morning’s volcanic eruption continues to fall lightly over the town of Futaleufu,” Javier Villegas of Radio Estrella del Mar told the Patagonia Times. “The community’s in a state of constant alert. People are being asked no to go outside unless necessary, not to drive – so as not to stir up ash that’s on the roads – and to collect water.”

Authorities originally believed the eruption originated in the nearby Michimahuida volcano, a 2,400-meter behemoth located some 40 kilometers north-west of Chaitén.

Luis Lara explained that Chaitén is a “cauldron” volcano and features a large crater with a dome inside. “It’s growing and collapsing in a constant state of eruption,” the SERNAGEOMIN said.

The Chilean Navy has dispatched a ship called the Cirujano Videla to help evacuate Chaitén residents. Flights, meanwhile, have been temporarily suspended in the area due to low visibility.

By Benjamin Witte ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )