Chile's Mt. Calbuco volcano erupts for first time in over 40yrs

A total of 4,000 people were reportedly evacuated in southern Chile on April 22, following a massive double eruption of the Calbuco volcano – its first in over 42 years.

The first eruption on Wednesday set off a bit of a panic in the region.

"At the beginning, it was small, and later, the cloud grew and later there was a huge cloud over you and true terror starts," said one Puerto Montt resident.

Another person said: "It was impressive to see an enormous mushroom cloud, with the immense force of the volcano, and to see the ashes. At that point, there was a lot of panic, lots of chaos, traffic jams, people going to supermarkets, everyone looking for water, trying to take out money from the ATMs."

The eruption is a first for many in the region. The last major eruption was 1962. There was a minor eruption in 1972.

Calbuco also belched out a bit of gas and smoke in 1996.

Alejandro Verges, regional director at the Ministry of Interior and Public Safety, said Thursday afternoon that officials are concerned there might be a third eruption.

"The situation is relatively calm right now, although people are understandably anxious about what could happen tonight," he said.