Translation by Alejandro Cifuentes.
CONCEPCIÓN, Chile – The Calbuco Volcano, located in the Llanquihue Province, Los Lagos Region, erupted unexpectedly this afternoon after 43 years of inactivity.
Due to the volcanic event, Chilean Government has taken some measures including declaring exclusion zone to 20 miles around the massif and decred zone of exception and health alert for the provinces of Llanquihue and Puerto Octay.
The unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints nearest the volcano is the Alerce Ward of the Puerto Montt Chile Stake, located about 25 kilometers from the crater. The whole area corresponding to the area of exception is part of Puerto Montt Stake. There is no nearby destinations where the Church missionaries are performing proselytizing tasks.
There are more than 4,000 people evacuated so far. The intendente of Los Lagos, Nofal Abud, called for calm to the residents of the affected areas and said that so far there is no reason to evacuate the city of Puerto Montt. Meanwhile, the Emergency Committee just has ordered the evacuation of Ensenada sector of the town of Puerto Varas. Classes were suspended in all educational institutions throughout the region.
