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Chilean town of Ensenada, in the vicinity of the Calbuco volcano, is covered with tones of ash rained down following last week’s eruptions.

People living in Ensenada are now trying to save their homes and their livestock.

The roofs of a number of homes and businesses collapsed under the weight of the ash and residents feared for their sheep and cows.

Soldiers have been deployed to help with the clean-up.

The Chilean authorities have warned of the possibility of further eruptions.

Photo AP

Photo AP

They also said that should it rain, the ash could mix with debris to create dangerous mudflows.

Calbuco erupted twice last week, forcing the evacuation of more than 6,000 people.

Authorities said on April 25 that the volcano had spewed out an estimated 7,420 million cubic feet of ash.

Locals say the area looks like a grey desert with an average of 20in of ash over the town.

The authorities allowed some of the residents evacuated from Ensenada to return briefly in order to try to save some of their belongings.

On April 25, the Chilean government announced it would provide aid to cover huge financial losses incurred by local farmers and to help evacuate thousands of farm animals.

The second eruption on April 23 created a cloud of ash that rose 12 miles into the air.

Calbuco is one of around 90 active volcanoes in Chile.

Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano eruption sparked a red alert for the aviation industry, meaning significant ash emissions are likely.

Iceland’s meteorological office has warned that a small eruption under an ice cap has begun at Bardarbunga.

The air space over the site has been closed, but all Icelandic airports currently remain open, authorities say.

Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in 2010, producing an ash cloud that severely disrupted air travel.

The red alert is the highest warning on the country’s five-point scale.

A team of scientists was flying across the region on Saturday afternoon to monitor seismic activity.

Bardarbunga volcano eruption sparks red alert for aviation industry

Bardarbunga volcano eruption sparks red alert for aviation industry

“The eruption is considered a minor event at this point,” police said in a statement.

“Because of pressure from the glacier cap, it is uncertain whether the eruption will stay sub-glacial or not.”

Bardarbunga is part of a large volcano system hidden beneath the 0.31-mile thick Vatnajokull glacier in central Iceland.

Authorities have previously warned that any eruption in the volcano could result in flooding north of the glacier.

On Wednesday, authorities evacuated several hundred people from the area over fears of an eruption.

The region, located more than 190 miles from Iceland’s Reykjavik, has no permanent residents but sits within a national park popular with tourists.

The move came after geologists reported that about 300 earthquakes had been detected in the area since midnight on Tuesday.

The Eyjafjallajokull eruption in April 2010 caused the largest closure of European airspace since World War Two, with losses estimated at between 1.5 billion and 2.5 billion euros.

Criticism following the strictly enforced shutdown resulted in the CAA relaxing its rules to allow planes to fly in areas with a low density of volcanic ash.

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Some 200,000 people are told to evacuate their homes in Indonesia after Kelud volcano erupts on the island of Java, with at least two people killed.

Mount Kelud spewed ash and debris over a large area, including the city of Surabaya, about 80 miles away.

Two people died after their houses collapsed under the weight of ash, officials said. Some towns were said to be covered by 1.6 in of ash.

Three major airports in Surabaya, Solo and Yogyakarta were forced to shut down because of low visibility.

There are also fears that debris could damage aircraft engines.

Some 200,000 people are told to evacuate their homes in Indonesia after Kelud volcano erupts on the island of Java

Some 200,000 people are told to evacuate their homes in Indonesia after Kelud volcano erupts on the island of Java

Andi Wirson, general manager at the Yogyakarta airport, said: “The current conditions are that volcanic ash is now covering the runway, apron and tarmac. We have already measured the thickness of the volcanic ash, which is at 5 cm on the runway and tarmac.”

Indonesia’s disaster agency on Friday said that more than 100,000 people had evacuated to temporary shelters.

Many in Indonesia are quite used to volcanic eruptions, and are reluctant to leave their homes and belongings, correspondents say.

Officials said two people died after their homes, which appeared to have weak structures, could not withstand the weight of gravel and ash, and caved in.

Some of the evacuees tried to visit their houses on Friday morning to gather clothing and valuables, but were forced to turn back by the continuous stream of volcanic ash and rocks from the volcano, AFP news agency reported.

The 5,600 ft Mount Kelud – which had been rumbling for several weeks – erupted on Thursday evening.

However, the head of Indonesia’s Volcano and Geology Agency, Hendrasto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the eruption was gradually subsiding.

Experts say the volcano tends to quieten down after a large eruption, and more big eruptions are unlikely.

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New Zealand’s Mount Tongariro has erupted again, having rumbled back to life in August after more than a century of quiet.

The volcano, in the North Island, sent a column of ash at least 2 km (1.25 miles) into the air, scientists said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but hikers and a group of school children were being moved out of the national park.

Before the August activity, the 1,978m (6,490 ft) peak last erupted in 1897.

The latest eruption happened at around 13:25 local time and lasted for around five minutes, experts said.

A release from the Ministry of Civil Defence said “minor volcanic activity” was occurring at the Tongariro – Te Maari craters and “could be hazardous in the immediate vicinity of the craters”.

New Zealand's Mount Tongariro has erupted again, having rumbled back to life in August after more than a century of quiet

New Zealand’s Mount Tongariro has erupted again, having rumbled back to life in August after more than a century of quiet

“Light volcanic ash fall can be anticipated downwind of Tongariro,” it said, potentially affecting the Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty areas.

Air New Zealand said it did not expect delays or cancellations as a result of the eruption, based on current information.

It was “working closely with the relevant authorities to keep up to date with ash movement and forecasts” and would adjust flight routes if necessary.

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