ENSENADA, Chile (AP) – A handful of people who ignored an evacuation order shoveled ash off roofs, but otherwise Ensenada appeared a ghost town after almost all of its 1,500 residents fled to safer ground following twin blasts from the Calbuco volcano.
The volcano, which had been dormant for 42 years, erupted Wednesday, spewing a plume of ash more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) high. A second, spectacular outburst came early Thursday, with lightning crackling through a dark sky turned reddish orange by the explosion.
At the foot of the volcano, Ensenada was covered in thick soot, raising concerns that the ash could contaminate water, cause respiratory illnesses and ground more flights. Some roofs had collapsed under the weight of the ash.
Authorities said 30 residents refused to evacuate because of worries about their homes and animals. Ensenada was eerily empty except for a few residents in masks against the ash and the occasional horse or dog roaming its only street.
Daniel Patricio Gonzalez left town with his wife and children, but he returned to town Thursday night to assess the damage. The roof at the restaurant he manages had caved in.