Villarrica volcano eruption in Chile evacuates thousands

Volcano Villarrica eruption in Chile has sent a plume of ash and lava high into the sky in the early hours and put Chile on high alert.

Over 4,000 people were evacuated overnight as a preventive measure, Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said Reuters.

The Villarrica volcano erupted around 3 a.m. local time, according to the National Emergency Office, which issued a red alert and ordered evacuations. A column of ash and rock particles shot up to 3 km (nearly 2 miles) into the sky.

The Villarica volcano erupted Tuesday around 3 a.m. local time according to the
National Emergency Office (Aton Chile/Associated Press)

"I've never seen a volcano erupt and it was spewing lava and ash hundreds of meters into the air. Lightning was striking down at the volcano from the ash cloud that formed from the eruption," 29-year-old Australian tourist Travis Armstrong said AP.

Related Post: Copahue volcano prompts evacuations in Chile and Argentina

About Villarrica Volcano

Villarrica is one of Chile's most active volcanoes located near the popular tourist resort of Pucon around 750 km south of the capital Santiago. The earliest recorded Villarrica volcano eruption occurred in 1558. It last erupted in 2000.

Original post: Natural Disasters List May 3, 2015