Shifting winds caused flames to sweep over a group of firefighters battling wildfires in Chile, killing six of them, badly burning two and leaving another missing.

Thousands of passengers in Australia and New Zealand were affected when airlines suspended flights today as an ash cloud from an erupting volcano in southern Chile spread, threatening to damage engines.

SOUTHERN Chile’s Puyehue volcano has erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people, authorities said.

SOUTHERN Chile’s Puyehue volcano has erupted for the first time in half a century, prompting evacuation orders for 3,500 people.

The Puyehue volcano in southern Chile erupted, sending a huge plume of smoke and ash into the sky and prompting officials to evacuate about 600 people living nearby. There were no reports of injuries.

Chile’s government announced a Cabinet shake-up, a day after the defence minister submitted a surprise resignation.

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake shook southern Chile, prompting tens of thousands to flee the coast for higher ground amid fears it could generate a tsunami like the one that ravaged the area last year.

A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake, capable of tremendous damage, struck southern Chile early today, shaking buildings in the capital, where some buildings collapsed.

Mapuche Indians have vowed to keep seizing land in southern Chile despite the death of an activist who resisted an eviction by riot police.

A helicopter carrying firefighters from a forest fire crashed in southern Chile, killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.

A volcano in southern Chile spewed lava and blasted ash more than 12 miles into the sky today, prompting a total evacuation of the provincial capital and other settlements.

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.

RELATIVES of missing backpacker Ronan Lawlor yesterday awaited the return of his body after his remains were discovered in a remote area of a national park in southern Chile.

POLAR history is being made with the near-completion of the gruelling trek to the southernmost place on earth by Irishman Mike Barry.

Former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet has left a hospital two days after undergoing surgery to replace his seven-year-old pacemaker.