Chaiten began erupting on May 2 for the first time in at least 9,000 years, spewing tons of toxic ash that have blanketed a broad swath of southern Chile and Argentina’s Patagonia region.

On Wednesday, officials declared the evacuated town of Chaitén off-limits for at least the next three months, or until the threat of pyroclastic flows subsides.

The latest aspect of the volcanic disaster is severe flooding that occurred after ash from the volcano swelled rivers, causing them to breach their banks.

On Monday, a wave of ash-laden flood water surged through Chaitén's abandoned streets, ripping some buildings off their foundations.

Other hazards caused by Chaitén's eruption threaten residents of the region who are unable to evacuate or fend for themselves against the volcano's fury.

Officials fear that two million sheep in the Argentine province of Chubut are in danger of starvation because the ash has covered and killed the vegetation the animals depend upon for food.

Photo Gallery of ash falling downwind of Chaitén Eruption

Photo: Mario Quilodran – El Mercurio
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