The Chaiten volcano, which erupted spectacularly in 2008, spewed a vast cloud of ash again last week, sending gas and molten rock into skies above the town six miles (10 km) from its crater, forcing the evacuation of many residents too stubborn to leave a year ago.

A handful of residents are still hanging on and vow to stay put.

La Ministra de Vivienda y Urbanismo, Patricia Poblete, abordó los nuevos antecedentes del estudio encargado a las Universidades de Católica y Austral para la reubicación de Chaitén, a menos de una semana de que el volcán intensificara su actividad eruptiva.

Patricia Poblete dijo que la tercera etapa del estudio definió 4 lugares para pensar en un nuevo Chaitén, los

El organismo -que ha destinado a sus

"The government's not going to allow people to burn themselves up or commit collective suicide," Justice Ministry spokesman Francisco Vidal told reporters.

Chaiten volcano erupted in May 2008 forcing the evacuation of all 4,000 inhabitants of Chaiten town, 10 kilometers (six miles) from the mountain.

Most of the 200 people who since returned

Television footage showed a cloud of ash billowing into the sky over the town of Chaiten, which lies about six miles (10 km) from the crater.

Authorities evacuated 160 people from the area. Around 7,000 nearby residents were evacuated last year after the volcano, dormant for thousands of years, erupted. The government is planning to relocate the town.

"Yo por lo menos no voy a arriesgar ni al personal de Carabineros ni a la Delegada Presidencial, les he dado