MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Volcanic ashes reach south Buenos Aires and Atlantic Ocean

Chaiten ashes cover Bahia Blanca city

Ash from the erupting Chaiten volcano in Chilean Patagonia has continued to advance into Argentina and the Southern Atlantic Ocean blanketing the city of Bahia Blanca (800 kilometers south of Buenos Aires City) and adjacent areas in the south of the province of Buenos Aires.

The long dormant volcano located 1.300 kilometers south of Santiago became active last Friday with a 20 kilometers high plume and raining ash over its surroundings forcing the evacuation of an estimated 5.000 people in a radius of 30 kilometers, according to Chile's Emergency Office. But on Tuesday the dense high plume of ash took a northeasterly turn after moving southeasterly and blanketing with volcanic ash several Argentine cities in the province of Neuquen close to the Andes. In its new direction ashes reached Bariloche, Argentina's most famous ski resort in the province of Rio Negro and then continued north towards Buenos Aires. Rodrigo Rojas from the Chilean Emergency Office said that following Chaiten's thundering and double eruption Tuesday, on Wednesday "there have been no reports of significant changes in seismic activity or emission of ashes". However flights from Buenos Aires were cancelled to most of the major southern Argentine cities because of ash in the air. "The airports are open but the airlines cancelled flights because the volcanic ash gets in the airplane turbines and could cause material damage," said an aviation official at the Jorge Newbery airport north of Buenos Aires. One of the main challenges faced by emergency authorities is drinking water because water sources have been contaminated by the volcanic ashes, which has also become a serious problem for livestock and wildlife. Argentine Environment minister Romina Picolotti who was visiting the areas most affected said that the volcanic ashes "are not toxic" but insisted that all residents must wear dust masks that are being supplied by local and federal relief authorities. Most schools in many rural areas which had been closed down were gradually reopening and in some locations classes have been suspended until next Friday. In Chile the evacuees are lodged in Army barracks and school gymnasiums while trucks are distributing drinking water among residents in small locations. The Chilean Emergency Office has also called on vets to help round up and care pets and other animals which were left behind by fleeing residents from the ash covered towns. Chilean and Argentine presidents Michelle Bachelet and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner were on the phone early morning Wednesday to agree on a joint coordination of efforts with the consequences of the volcanic eruption.