Santiago: Dormant for last four decades, the Calbuco Volcano in southern Chile has erupted twice in a day, belching out thick plumes of smoke and ash up in the air.
A red alert has been issued and evacuations are underway.
The second eruption was said to be stronger than the first and involved pyroclastic flow, tweeted Chile's National Geology and Mining Services.
Impacto de la ceniza del #VolcánCalbuco en #Argentina #VillaAngostura pic.twitter.com/gzdle6ZP45
— Sernageomin (Chile) (@Sernageomin) April 23, 2015
According to a BBC report, about 1,500 people were evacuated from a 20km (12 mile) radius as a precaution.
The nearby city of Puerto Montt, which is also enveloped in a thick cover of ash cloud, saw people queuing up at petrol stations and traffic jams.
Residents have been instructed to "remain calm and stay informed".
