LOOK: Pictures of The Villarrica Volcano's Eruption In Chile

By Krishnadev Calamur / NPR

Published March 3, 2015 at 5:02 AM PST

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

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Ash and lava spew from the volcano, as seen from Pucon, Chile.

A view of the Villarrica volcano erupting Tuesday. More than 4,000 people have been evacuated due to the risk of floods as snow melts due to the eruption.

A general view of the volcano, which is Villarrica erupting near Villarrica, some 466 miles south of Santiago de Chile.

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The eruption of the Villarrica volcano in southern Chile has prompted the evacuation of thousands of people, as it spewed heavy smoke into the air and lava down its slopes.

The 9,000 foot volcano hovers over the city of Pucon, home to about 22,000 people.

"It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen," Travis Armstrong, a 29-year-old Australian tourist, told The Associated Press. "I've never seen a volcano erupt and it was spewing lava and ash hundreds of meters into the air. Lightning was striking down at the volcano from the ash cloud that formed from the eruption."

Here's what that looks like.