The Puyehue volcano has erupted in southern Chile, sending a column of smoke billowing several kilometers into the air.

Authorities say they have evacuated about 600 people from areas surrounding the mountain, which is nearly 1,000 kilometers south of the Chilean capital, Santiago.

Emergency officials also recorded many small earthquakes in the region Saturday.

There have been no reports of injuries.

Chile has the second largest volcanic chain in the world after Indonesia. Other Chilean volcanos, Llaima and the Chaiten, have erupted in recent years.