Lava erupts and flows into the scene of a newly erupted volcano in Grindavik, Iceland
O Chile announced this Sunday the 24th the increase in the alert level for volcano Villarrica, considered the highest risk in the country. The danger lies in the Andes, one of the regions with the highest tourist activity in the country, and has already been observed in recent days when local authorities declared the yellow warning. Today the index was raised to orange alert, symbolizing high risk. The National Geological and Mining Service (Sernageomin) “has communicated the change of the technical alert for the Villarrica volcano from yellow to orange,” the Civil Protection and Response System (Sinapred) said in a statement after a meeting of its authorities. According to experts, the information collected by the monitoring stations shows “abnormal activity in the massif that justifies the change.” The orange alert includes increased monitoring of the volcano’s behavior and measures to ensure the safety of nearby locations. The 2,847 meter high Villarrica volcano is located in the south of the country, between the regions of La Araucanía and Los Ríos. The massif is one of the most active volcanoes in South America and its last eruption occurred in March 2015. Nearby is a resort town with a population of 28,523, about 15 km from the mountain.
*With information from AFP.