International Briefs May 6, 2008

While many of us here in Indiana will type and talk about the primary, I thought a quick perusal of the international events around us may be in order as well.

Myanmar Cyclone from Associated Press:

Myanmar cyclone death toll soars past 22,000: state radio YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar state radio says the cyclone death toll has risen above 22,000. A news broadcast on government-run radio said Tuesday that 22,464 people have now been confirmed dead and thousands more are missing. Cyclone Nargis tore through the country's heartland and largest city, Yangon, early Saturday. Relief efforts have been difficult, in large part because the storm destroyed roads and communications outlets. The first assistance from overseas arrived Tuesday from neighboring Thailand.

Some estimate over 50,000 will eventually die from this tragedy.

Chilean Volcano:

SANTIAGO, Chile (Reuters) - Lava started to spew from an erupting volcano in southern Chile on Tuesday, authorities said, ordering the immediate evacuation of all remaining residents and journalists from a nearby town.

Chaiten volcano, in Patagonia around 760 miles (1,220 km) south of the capital of Santiago, began erupting on Friday, sending a towering plume of ash into the sky that has since coated the surrounding area and reached as far as Argentina.

Fernando Aguila, governor of the affected Palena province, told local radio lava was flowing and said 180 civilians and around 100 troops remained in Chaiten. Local television reported loud groaning sounds emanating from the volcano.

"The situation has changed suddenly," Rodrigo Rojas of the National Emergency Office said in an interview. "Today the volcano is erupting with pyroplastic material on a different scale," he added. "We presume lava is flowing and so have ordered the immediate precautionary evacuation of all civilians, military and press in Chaiten." Authorities have already evacuated around 4,200 people -- nearly the whole population -- from Chaiten, which is six miles (10 km) from the volcano.

They are also evacuating a second town, Futaleufu, which lies around 810 miles (1,300 km) south of Santiago and has also been coated with ash. The area is some distance from Chile's vital mining industry farther north.

Chilean authorities were caught off guard by the eruption of the 3,280-foot (1,000-meter) volcano, long considered inactive. Officials say the volcano had been dormant for thousands of years before Friday.