Eisteddfod hit by volcano dust

The Andes Welsh School is covered in ash from the volcano

Events at an eisteddfod in a Welsh community in Patagonia had to be conducted through face masks after a volcano erupted in nearby Chile.

The Chaiten volcano, which erupted for the first time in 450 years, forced the evacuation of local towns.

At Trevelin, just over the border in Argentina, the annual eisteddfod was affected by the volcanic fallout.

This year's event was dubbed the "Dust Eisteddfod" by competitors because of the amount of ash in the atmosphere.

Two towns in Chile were completely evacuated and elsewhere, schools and an airport have had to close because of falling ash.

There was an announcement from the stage that the choir wouldn't be singing because there was too much volcanic ash on the road, and I thought that wasn't something which happens in Wales Jill Stephen, Ysgol Gymraeg Esquel a Trevelin (Esquel and Trevelin Welsh School)

A huge column of smoke and ash rose into the sky, coating the area surrounding the volcano and spreading into neighbouring Argentina.

Despite the falling ash, the eisteddfod went ahead as planned with just one school choir having to cancel.

Trevelin is one of several communities in Chubut province in Argentina which were founded by Welsh emigrants in the 19th Century and which retain Welsh cultural traditions and language to this day.

Gill Stephen, a teacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Esquel a Trevelin (Esquel and Trevelin Welsh School), said: "They've called it the Eisteddfod of the Dust, which is different to our own dusty eisteddfodau in Wales.

"It was pretty funny actually because one of the choirs couldn't get there, and there was an announcement from the stage that the choir wouldn't be singing because there was too much volcanic ash on the road, and I thought that wasn't something which happens in Wales."

Ms Stephens said the ash was just like snow, adding: "Last Friday, a very fine white dust started falling everywhere and it has has just got worse since then. There's more every day, and there's about an inch by now.

Cars covered in ash demonstrate the dramatic effect of the eruption

"At the moment, the wind is in our favour. It's blowing to the north which is taking it away from us to El Bolson, which is unfortunate for them, but better for us. So, just at the moment, it's a little better."

Suma Krishnamurthy, from the British Council Wales, said: "We've had messages coming back from our contacts in Patagonia.

"They seem to be ones of concern for the local communities who have been told to stay indoors as well as the animals in the area that have no-where to shelter from the falling ash.

"Our teachers and the locals working with them are all safe and messages would suggest that spirits have not been broken.

"The local school where one of our teachers is based has been closed for now but we hope that the effect of the volcano eruption will not last too long and things will get back to normal soon."

More than 4,000 people left the town of Chaiten, six miles away from the volcano, after the initial eruption.

Chile is one of the most volcanic countries on Earth, with more than 100 active volcanoes.