Chile's Calbuco volcano triggers fresh evacuation Published duration 29 April 2015

image copyright EPA image caption The Calbuco volcano has emitted tonnes of ash into the air

There have been fresh evacuations in the area surrounding the Calbuco volcano in southern Chile after it started spewing ash again on Tuesday.

The volcano erupted twice last week prompting the evacuation of more than 6,000 people.

On Tuesday, residents who had returned to Rio Blanco, to the south of the volcano, were asked to leave again.

Calbuco, which before last week had not erupted for 42 years, is one of around 90 active volcanoes in Chile.

'Grey desert'

Tonnes of ash have fallen onto the surrounding area, covering whole towns in grey dust.

Meteorologists have warned of the possibility of rainfall, which could turn the ash into rivers of mud.

image copyright AP image caption A mudflow destroyed part of Rio Blanco

image copyright AP image caption Many residents found their homes and belongings ruined

image copyright AP image caption Some tried to clean up, but others say they fear renewed mudflows and want to leave for good

Rio Blanco resident Elizabeth Matamala told the Associated Press news agency that she was leaving for good "because of the danger that we're in, we can't live here anymore".

"We're afraid because a lot of rain is forecast for Thursday, if that happens then the rivers are going to rise again and there will be another inundation [of volcanic material]," she added.

Mudflows damaged parts of the town last week.

A large number of livestock had to be evacuated from the region as the pastures they used for grazing were covered in ash.

image copyright Reuters image caption Farmers have been taking their livestock to other areas to stop them from ingesting ash

image copyright Reuters image caption The area is popular with dairy farmers, but with ash covering pastures, the animals had to be moved

An official from the National Agriculture Society said the milk industry, 50% of which is located in the region, was hit by the eruption.

Chile has been hit by a series of natural disasters in recent months including flooding in the usually arid north and wildfires in its southern forests.