lightning storm over Chaiten volcano

Winds carried the ash to other towns in the region and across the Andes to Argentina

The village of Chaiten, next to the volcano, was virtually emptied in a massive evacuation

The gigantic plume of smoke from the volcano dominates the skyline

The Chaiten volcano has triggered earth tremors and spewed ash two miles into the air

Photo by: Carlos Gutierrez

This astonishing picture shows the Chaiten volcano erupting during storms in the middle of the night - As clouds of toxic ash and dust tower into the sky, they ionise the air, generating an explosive electrical storm. Colossal forks of lightning spark around the noxious plume as it spews from the volcano's crater, creating an image of raw, terrifying energy - as if the air itself were ablaze.