Chaitén is a volcanic caldera 3 kilometres (2 mi) in diameter, located 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of the elongated,
ice-capped Michinmahuida volcano and 10 kilometres (6 mi) northeast of the town of Chaitén,
near the Gulf of Corcovado in southern Chile.
The most recent eruptive phase of the volcano began on May 2, 2008, and is ongoing. According to the Global Volcanism Program, radiocarbon dating of older tephra from the volcano suggests that its last previous eruption
was in 7420 BC ± 75 years.[1]

The Chaiten volcano, 760 miles (1,200 km) south of Santiago in the Patagonia region, erupted in May 2008 for
the first time in thousands of years, spewing a plume of ash visible from space.


From the eruption in 2008
BBC-News -  http://en.wikipedia.org, GNU_Free_Documentation_License

The caldera rim reaches 1,122 metres (3,681 ft) above sea level. Prior to the current eruption, it was mostly filled
by a rhyolite obsidian lava dome that reached a height of 962 metres (3,156 ft), partly devoid of vegetation.
Two small lakes occupied the caldera floor on the west and north sides of the lava dome.[1]

August 22nd, 2010
Eruption is still going on, but as per today we are lack of information.
We hope to be back soon.

First eruption in over 9,400 years generates large ash plume; thousands evacuated
May 2nd, 2008

The first historical eruption at Chaitén began on the morning of 2 May 2008, following increased seismicity in
the region the day before.

Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) reported that a pulsating white-to-gray ash
plume on 2 May rose to an estimated altitude greater than 21 km and drifted SSE. Based on observations of
satellite imagery and pilot reports, the Buenos Aires VAAC reported an ash plume at altitudes of 13.7-16.8 km
that drifted NE. According to news articles, Chile's government declared a state of emergency on 2 May and
several hundred people were evacuated from the coastal town of Chaitén (10 km SE).

According to news sources, ashfall was reported during 2-6 May both locally and up to hundreds of kilometers
away, affecting water supplies and roads. Based on observations of satellite imagery and pilot reports,
the Buenos Aires VAAC reported that during 3-6 May ash plumes rose as high as 10.7 km altitude and drifted
variably to the SE (figure 2), E, W, and NE. News sources indicated that about 4,000-5,000 people were evacuated
from the town of Chaitén and surrounding areas as the eruption continued.


2003 photograph from the International Space Station.
The caldera is the circular feature visible in the lower part of the image. The town of Chaitén is to the top.

On 5 May, ONEMI (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia - Ministerio del Interior) reported that evacuations also
took place in Futaleufú, about 65 km ESE of Chaitén, where ~ 30 cm of ash accumulated. One elderly person
died during the evacuation efforts. On 6 May, ONEMI and SERNAGEOMIN reported that the eruption became
more forceful and generated a wider and darker gray ash plume rising to an estimated altitude of 30 km.
All remaining people in Chaitén were ordered to evacuate, as well as anyone within 50 km of the volcano.

  
Town of Chaitén overrun by lahars during mid-May to early June 2008. Lahars had began to accumulate as a
delta at the river mouth. Owing to sedimentation, the river (seen in background) had changed course and was
then flowing through the town. The airport is on photo's right side between the town and the steep hill in background. (bottom) This closer view illustrates variable amounts of lahar damage affecting Chaitén town.
This town was completely evacuated within several days of the eruption's onset.
Photos by A.B. Lockhart, USGS.


One of the parts of the devastation zone containing large lithic blocks (~ 1 m across), the most conspicuous
being the one at left, which may have been perched above fallen timber. Trees here fell away from the viewer.
Courtesy of Richard Roscoe, PhotoVolcanica.com.
(Above ionformation "9400 Years etc" is collected from Smithsonian Institute, Global Volcanism Program)


Fotografía: CHRISTIAN BROWN P.
Fotógrafo Gobierno Regional de Los Lagos.

On February 19, 2009, a partial dome collapse caused pyroclastic flows to descend through the Chaitén river
valley reaching down to approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) from the town of Chaitén.[25] The ash once again
reached Futaleufú and parts of Chubut province in neighboring Argentina. The approximately 160 people that
were in Chaitén were strongly urged to leave