Events at the eisteddfod in the Welsh community in Patagonia had to be conducted through face masks after a volcano erupted in nearby Chile.
Gill Stephen - a teacher who is taking part in the Welsh Language project, (a project developed in partnership with the Wales Assembly Government to promote the Welsh language and culture in Patagonia, Argentina) attended the Eisteddfod, 'They've called it the Eisteddfod of the Dust, which is different to our own dusty eisteddfodau in Wales.
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.
Two towns in Chile were completely evacuated and elsewhere, schools and an airport have had to close because of falling ash.
Ms Stephens said, "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." 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."
She 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.
James Rhys Williams, is another volunteer who lives just half an hour away from where the volcano erupted and works in the Welsh Centre in the Andes on another Welsh language initiative in Patagonia. He told us, 'We've been covered in volcanic ash now since last Friday morning. Schools have closed and people have been moved from the towns of Chaitan and Futalafu to the north of Chile. We've been told only to drink bottled water and to stay indoors. The road between Esquel and Trevelin has had to close as there was zero visibility. The streets look as if we've had an early snow fall, but closer inspaection shows that it's grey volcanic ash that feels like a cement.'
'Concern is growing about the long term effects of the ash, and farmers are especially concerned about the effect it will have on the land and on their animals.'
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.
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