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        May 8, 2008

(CNN Student News) -- May 8, 2008 Quick Guide Volcano Awakens - See the effects of a volcanic eruption in one South American country. CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, there. I'm Carl Azuz, and this is CNN Student News. From South America to Southeast Asia, we've got stories from around the globe in today's program. So, let's get to it. First Up: Volcano Awakens AZUZ: First up, we're heading to Chile, where 50,000 acres of land are covered in ash from an erupting volcano. This is taking place about 750 miles south of the country's capital of Santiago. According to a group from the Smithsonian, the volcano had been dormant, or inactive, for thousands of years. Not anymore. The eruptions started late last week, forcing residents to flee the area. Amaro Gomez-Pablo has more on the details surrounding this natural disaster. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AMARO GOMEZ-PABLO, CNN REPORTER: A postcard landscape in southern Chile is now quite literally a giant ashtray. Huge columns of debris have been spewing out of the Chaitén volcano nonstop, covering a wide area with ash. PERSON ON THE STREET: This is very bad. The animals, we don't know what's going to happen to them. GOMEZ-PABLO: The government ordered more than four thousand people evacuated because of a growing fear of toxic gases and falling debris. The small city of Chaitén is now a ghost town. A government spokesman told CNN en Espanol boats and helicopters helped get some of the people out. The eruption happened with little warning: first tremors, then the volcano began erupting Friday; scientists say the first time it has come to life in 9,000 years. Satellite images show clouds of smoke spreading east as far as the Atlantic Ocean. Chile is one of the most active volcano countries on Earth, but this is the worst eruption in 75 years. JERSY MARINO, PERUVIAN MINING AND GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE: Well, we are already monitoring, but now it will be more intense. It has already given us plenty of ideas about what's going on and what could happen. GOMEZ-PABLO: Chile's President Michelle Bachelet assessed the damage on the ground. MICHELLE BACHELET, CHILE'S PRESIDENT: We are going to work very hard to meet the needs of the people. We understand that, under these conditions, it is very hard to work and to be productive. GOMEZ-PABLO: This part of Chile is one of the most coveted international destinations in the world for adventure tourism. Right now, the people here whose livelihoods turned to ashes are left to wonder when they can return. Amaro Gomez-Pablo for CNN, Santiago, Chile. (END VIDEO CLIP) Fast Facts GEORGE RAMSAY, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for some Fast Facts! Chile is located on South America's western coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. The country stretches about 2,700 miles from its northern border with Peru to the southern tip of South America. Chile is a land of geographical contrasts, from deserts in the north to subantarctic climates in the south. Volcanoes aren't the only natural disasters that affect the country. It's also experienced earthquakes, tsunamis, severe winter storms and summer droughts.

    
　

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