Thousands Evacuated As
Frequent Earthquakes
Rock Southern Chile
Some 4,000 people have
been evacuated from
Chaiten in southern
Chile since Friday
night, as minor but
frequent earthquakes
struck the region.
According to the
University of Chile's
Seismological Service,
more than 10 moderate
earthquakes have hit the
Chaiten region between
Friday night and
Saturday morning.
No casualties or damage
have been reported so
far.
The quakes, some experts
believe, were triggered
by the eruption of
Chaiten volcano early
Friday morning. Regions
around the volcano have
been covered with dense
clouds of ash and dust.
The volcano, located 10
km from the city of
Chaiten, is small and
not expected to produce
huge eruptions, but
possible eruptions at
any time pose a deadly
threat due to the
volcano's proximity to
the city. Local
authorities have
declared a red alert.
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