Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two Utah parents have been watching the aftermath of a dramatic volcanic eruption in Chile with keen interest.
Their daughter, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is serving in nearby Pucon and had to be relocated because of the eruption at volcano Villarrica.
“We opened the email and the heading said, ‘Volcano Erupted,’ and of course immediately I was like, ‘Oh, geez!’” Laura Segura said.
Samantha Segura had been called to the Chile Osorno mission and had recently been working with other missionaries to talk to the locals about emergency preparedness, her mother said. The Segura family had known an eruption was a possibility, and Samantha was living about 12 miles away from the volcano.
“So, I’m thinking 12 miles with a volcano — that’s pretty close to me,” Laura Segura chuckled.
Segura and husband Luis have been updating a blog with the emails and pictures Samantha sends, and they received a photo Monday showing the volcano smoking.
They woke up the next day to see images and videos of the eruption.
“Like, ‘Wow!’” said Luis Segura, recalling his initial reaction. “'That’s pretty big!’”
'The big one kills people.' That's what she said! So yeah, we were going, OK, hope she's transferred before that happens.
–Laura Segura
Word quickly circulated that over 3,000 people were being evacuated. Fortunately, church officials were moving Samantha and others to safer quarters.
“All missionaries in the affected area are safe and accounted for,” said LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins in a statement issued Tuesday. “A small number of missionaries have been moved temporarily to ensure their safety. Our prayers are with the people in the surrounding area as they deal with this natural disaster.”
The Seguras said Friday their daughter was in good hands.
“We know that she’s safe and that things are being taken care of right over there, so at least I’m not too worried about it,” Luis Segura said.
The couple said their daughter was excited to serve her mission in Chile, has enjoyed the experience and was likely appreciating the rare spectacle.
“I think she’s actually enjoying it, you know, something else to write home about,” her father said.
The Seguras said they believed the eruption would serve as a story Samantha would never forget. They said they were at ease, though a second, stronger eruption was expected sometime around June.
“Quoting (Samantha), ‘The big one kills people,’” Laura Segura said. “That’s what she said! So yeah, we were going, OK, hope she’s transferred before that happens.”
