Chilean officials downgrade chance for 3rd big blast from volcano; residents begin clean-up

Residents evacuate with a few salvaged belongings after their home was destroyed by a volcanic mudflow, caused by the eruption of the Calbuco volcano, in an area along the Rio Blanco in Puerto Montt, Chile, Saturday, April 25, 2015. Authorities urged 2,000 people living near the volcano to evacuate Friday after potentially devastating mudflows of volcanic debris were detected in a nearby river, the result of two huge eruptions this week that sent ash across large swaths of southern South America. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo) (The Associated Press)

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Edubino Baez wears a mask as protection against volcanic ash as he waits inside a military truck during an evacuation operation along the Rio Blanco in Puerto Montt area, Chile, Saturday, April 25, 2015. Authorities urged 2,000 people living near the Calbuco volcano to evacuate Friday after potentially devastating mudflows of volcanic debris were detected in a nearby river, the result of two huge eruptions this week that sent ash across large swaths of southern South America. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo) (The Associated Press)

A military truck transporting aid is framed in the the window of a home destroyed by a volcanic mudflow, in an area along the Rio Blanco in Puerto Montt, Chile, Saturday, April 25, 2015. Authorities urged 2,000 people living near the volcano to evacuate Friday after potentially devastating mudflows of volcanic debris were detected in a nearby river, the result of two huge eruptions this week that sent ash across large swaths of southern South America. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo) (The Associated Press)

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean authorities are downgrading the likelihood of another big eruption from the Calbuco volcano, although the mountain remains active and the ash clouds it already ejected have caused cancelations of more airline flights.

The head of the National Mining and Geology Service says Calbuco's seismic activity has changed. Rodrigo Alvarez says the volcano will stay active for a while longer but officials no longer expect a third strong eruption like those on Wednesday and Thursday.

A few airline flights were cancelled Saturday as volcanic ash spread over more of the southern half of South America.

At the foot of the volcano, Chilean authorities allowed some of the 1,500 people who evacuated the town of Ensenada to return temporarily to their homes to clean up damage from the heavy ash fall.