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Volcanic Plume Blankets S. America

Ash from Chile eruption closing in on Beunos Aires

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 7, 2008 8:04 PM CDT

(Newser) – A mammoth plume of ash and smoke from a newly erupted volcano in Chile is slowly working its way across South America and now poses a health risk to the 8 million residents of Beunos Aires, AFP reports. Thousands of residents of southern Chile were evacuated Tuesday, with ash coating city streets and health officials urging people to don masks.

"Everything depends on which way the wind blows," said one meteorologist in Argentina. The 19-mile-high plume of smoke has canceled flights throughout the region. Meanwhile, a volcano expert warned that the eruption is only in its early stages and warned that a "major explosion" could collapse the volcano's cone.

A woman walks along a street covered with ashes from the erupting Chaiten volcano, in neighboring Chile, in Esquel, Argentina.
A woman walks along a street covered with ashes from the erupting Chaiten volcano, in neighboring Chile, in Esquel, Argentina.   (AP Photo/str)
A youth wears a protective mask as he rides his bike in a street covered in ashes coming from Chile's Chaiten volcano in Esquel, Argentina, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
A youth wears a protective mask as he rides his bike in a street covered in ashes coming from Chile's Chaiten volcano in Esquel, Argentina, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.   (AP Photo)
A dead cow lies covered by ashes from the Chaiten volcano at a road leading to the Argenroad to Argentina, near Chaiten, Chile, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
A dead cow lies covered by ashes from the Chaiten volcano at a road leading to the Argenroad to Argentina, near Chaiten, Chile, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/La Tercera, Alfredo Miranda)
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano is seen behind abandoned cattle, in Chaiten, Chile, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano is seen behind abandoned cattle, in Chaiten, Chile, Tuesday, May 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mario Mendoza)
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano are seen in Chaiten, Chile.
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano are seen in Chaiten, Chile.   (AP Photo/Mario Mendoza)
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano are seen over Chaiten, Chile, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano are seen over Chaiten, Chile, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.   (AP Photo/La Tercera, Jorge Cadenas)
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano are seen over Chaiten, Chile, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
A cloud of smoke and ashes produced by intensified eruption of the Chaiten volcano are seen over Chaiten, Chile, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.   (AP Photo/La Tercera, Jorge Cadenas)
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