Incredible moment Chilean volcano sends huge plume of ash

Volcano Calbuco, in the country's south, had laid dormant for more than 40 years when it suddenly erupted in April, causing thousands to flee.

Just five months later, Calbuco, considered to be among the three most dangerous of Chile's 90 active volcanoes, was captured spewing lava again. 

Firefighter and amateur photographer Eduardo Minte, 28, from Osorno, Chile, took the pictures at Llanquihue Lake between the towns of Frutillar and Llanquihue earlier this month.

'This eruption was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. My jaw dropped - it was like the almighty was descending from the heavens,' he said.

'When I saw that the volcano was erupting I had to pick up my camera gear and went to Punta Larga to get some shots.

'When I did arrive, the first eruption was over but some hours later the second eruption began and luckily that's how I got all my pictures.

'Eruptions like this don't happen often at all.'

Chile, on the Pacific 'Rim of Fire', has the second largest chain of volcanoes in the world after Indonesia, including around 500 that are potentially active. 

In April around 1,500 people were forced to flee their homes after Calbuco blew its top without warning.

In March, volcano Villarrica, also in southern Chile, erupted in spectacular fashion, sending a plume of ash and lava high into the sky, but quickly subsided. 

The eruption comes just days before the 'blood moon' - due to occur on Monday September 28 - with some theorists predicting the second coming of Christ and the looming apocalypse.

Mr Minte though, had his sights firmly set on the magnificence of the spectacle that unfolded before his eyes.

'I haven't seen something so spectacular in all my life,' he said.

(dailymail.co.uk)