New volcanic activity in Chaitén prompts total evacuation

SANTIAGO. -  New volcanic activity registered in the Chaitén volcano close to midnight has prompted a total evacuation of the area surrounding the mountain, allowing police and members of the Armed Forces to employ an emergency protection measure approved today by the Puerto Montt Court of Appeals.

“Right now we are surveying the zone to find people and get them out of the area (…) we have already removed six people”, Fourth Division Army Colonel Henry Martínez told the national television station (TVN).

When asked whether they would also evacuate people who resisted, the colonel said “the minister of Defense (José Goñi) has already spoken about that matter”, referring to the instructions given to police and Army personnel to remove all people still located in the danger zone.

The colonel said that he hopes they do not have to use force to make people leave their homes but asserted if that is the case, they will have to do so.