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Eruption gains strength at Chilean volcano; Police, military ordered to flee

June 14, 2008, 05:59 AM Post Comments
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The six-week eruption of a volcano in southern Chile has regained strength with bursts of thick gas, seismic rumblings and the emergence of two new craters.

Gov. Sergio Galilea of the Los Lagos region said Friday that police and military personnel stationed near Chaiten volcano were ordered to leave.

The volcano is 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) south of the Chilean capital of Santiago. It erupted May 2 and has forced the evacuation of 4,500 residents from the nearby village of Chaiten.

The village has since been heavily damaged by the overflowing Blanco River, its water thickened by ash form the volcano.

Galilea says two new craters have appeared on the volcano.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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