While the volcanic eruption of cord Caulle in this area south of the country tended to decline on Wednesday, authorities visited the region and expressed concern about the huge amount of ash falling on crops, rivers and lakes.
The authorities maintain the evacuation of thousands of people living close to the Caulle, located approximately 900 kilometers south of Santiago, but sporadic returns allow the locals to feed livestock and pets.
Agriculture Minister, Antonio Galilea, toured the area where the rash is visible at times because of rain and clouds. Also strong winds and low temperatures prevailing in this region, where the volcano erupted on Saturday.
“But the emergency that exists, farmers are used to store fodder and therefore have reservations of grass. If you run out we prepared to face the situation,” he said.
Some farms are covered with a thick layer of ash, while others have been saved thanks to the winds, which led the column of ash and pyroclastic material into neighboring Argentina.
Miguel Oyarzun, livestock Golgol River valley, was one of the 50 had to feed their livestock with fodder that he kept as his property meadows are covered with ash.
The animals were hungry and had to give our grass saved,” he said.
Agriculture Minister also expressed concern about pollution of rivers and lakes. On water from rivers such as the Nilahue Golgol, you can see layers of ash, and some lakes have been polluted by the waters of its tributaries.
“Galilee reported that the river was detected Nilahue high mortality of fish due to pollution, which does not allow animals to drink from rivers.
Roads were also blocked by the layer of ash in some areas reaches 50 centimeters in height.
Cardenal Samore step on the border with Argentina, the second largest of the routes connecting the two countries, closed since the weekend.
Public Works Minister, Hernan de Solminihac, who also toured the disaster zone, said that clearance of the international route will require the work of two days.
Although the situation tends slowly toward normalization, the government maintains a red alert in the area.
Volcanologists reported that the strong activity of cord The Caulle could remain still for five days.
Since Argentina is reported that villages near the border, as Villa La Angostura, affected by falling ash and volcanic material, recovered and cleared the thick layer that covered it. The lakeside resort of Bariloche was also affected by the ash, as the winds drove to those locations in Argentina.
A delegation of government officials and police, led by Governor of Osorno, Rodrigo Kauak, managed to reach the border and transfer it to meet with Argentine authorities with whom we share information.
