AUTHORITIES evacuated hundreds of people from villages in southern Chile on Friday after a snowcapped volcano, dormant for thousands, of years erupted. The blast sent minor earthquakes rippling through the region.

Authorities evacuated hundreds of people from villages in southern Chile after a snowcapped volcano considered dormant for thousands of years erupted, sending minor earthquakes rippling through the region.

Ecuador’s Tungurahua volcano shot columns of ash miles into the air as officials ordered 3,000 villagers living near its slopes to evacuate.