( CNN ) As ash from Chile 's Calbuco Volcano spread east into Argentina , geologists warned of the potential for more activity Friday . Evacuations in the region involved not only people but animals as well . `` There is more seismic activity ... and we think there will be more activity today , '' Helmuth Huerta , a spokesman for Chile 's National Geological and Mining Service , told CNN . The volcano has already erupted twice this week , spewing ash to a depth of about 23½ inches ( 60 centimeters ) in some places , according to the Ministry of Interior and Public Safety . New advisories say airborne ash could reach an altitude of 12,000 feet . Calbuco erupted twice in 24 hours , the geological agency said early Thursday . The agency said it was evaluating a spectacular nighttime eruption but indicated it was `` stronger than the first one . '' In Ensenada , houses , trees and even sheep were blanketed gray with ash , CNN 's Shasta Darlington reported . People were removing salmon -- a staple of the local economy -- amid fear of contamination from ash and lava . Trucks were used to evacuate farm animals and pets . Authorities issued a red alert for the popular tourist towns of Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas in the south . People were being evacuated to Port Montt on 22 buses and military trucks , the interior ministry said . Officials said that volcanic flows from Calbuco caused rising water levels in the Río Blanco . A 12-mile ( 20-kilometer ) exclusion zone was established around the crater . Military and police forces were helping evacuate more than 4,400 residents , the Interior Ministry said . An additional 2,000 residents of Chamiza were being evacuated as a preventive measure after river levels rose due to volcanic flows . More evacuations were expected in Lago Chapo and Correntoso . The first eruption on Wednesday set off a bit of a panic in the region . `` At the beginning , it was small , and later , the cloud grew . And later , there was a huge cloud over you and true terror starts , '' a Puerto Montt resident said . Another person said : `` It was impressive to see an enormous mushroom cloud , with the immense force of the volcano , and to see the ashes . At that point , there was a lot of panic , lots of chaos , traffic jams , people going to supermarkets , everyone looking for water , trying to take out money from the ATMs . '' Magma expanse under Yellowstone supervolcano more vast than thought . The eruption is a first for many in the region . The last major eruption was 1962 . There was a minor eruption in 1972 . Calbuco also belched out a bit of gas and smoke in 1996 . Alejandro Verges , regional director of the Interior Ministry , said that officials are concerned there might be a third eruption . `` The situation is relatively calm right now , although people are understandably anxious about what could happen tonight , '' he said .
ash already has erupted twice this week . It has exposed ash to a depth of about 23½ inches in some areas , Chilean authorities say . Authorities pose an alert for nearby towns , and there 's a 12-mile exclusion zone .