Ash cloud hits presidential flights in Chile

Ash from a Chilean volcano fell across a wide swath of Latin America today, forcing cancellation of dozens of flights and grounding the presidents of Argentina and Uruguay.

The ash dusted the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo as well as Argentina’s Buenos Aires, roughly 850 miles north-east of the Cordon Caulle volcano that began erupting on Saturday.

Volcanic ash can damage plane engines, so many flights were cancelled.

Even Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was forced to use a car rather than a helicopter to get to work today. Her planned meeting with Uruguayan leader Jose Mujica was scrapped because he was unable to fly to Buenos Aires.

Argentina’s transport ministry said at least seven regional airports had been closed until it is safe to reopen them.

Chilean officials earlier evacuated about 3,500 people who live near the volcano, which was still spewing gas and ash.