Chaiten volcano erupts in southern Chile spreading ash to Argentina; red alert is declared. A volcano erupted in southern Chile on Friday (May 02), triggering earth tremors and spewing a cloud of ash 2 miles (3 km) into the air that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people from the remote area, officials said. Residents said ash fell over the picturesque Patagonian town of Chaiten, 760 miles (1,220 km) south of the capital Santiago and just 6 miles (10 km) from the volcano. Aerial footage showed ash cloaking mountain ridges. Visibility was poor, and in some areas thick ash settled on the ground and caked vehicles. Trucks with drinking water were dispatched to the area after ash tainted water supplies, authorities said. Some schools were closed and hospitals treated people for irritated eyes and breathing difficulties. A boat was sent to the region to evacuate hundreds of people, many of whom live scattered on small islands that make up southernmost Chile. In Santiago, President...