SANTIAGO (AFP) – Authorities in Chile on Saturday raised the alert level and limited access to the area around the Lascar volcano, after an increase in seismic activity raised fears of a possible eruption.
The volcano lies in an area near the Bolivian border that is sparsely inhabited but is one of northern Chile’s most geologically active regions.
The National Geology and Mining Service has raised the alert level for Lascar from yellow to orange, following “an increase in seismicity”.
Amid heightened seismic activity, the agency predicted “eruptive pulses with columns exceeding five kilometres in height”, with blocks of pumice being projected and ash spread over a wide area.
The orange alert will bring increased technical monitoring of the volcano and measures to protect surrounding towns including the popular tourist destination of San Pedro de Atacama, some 70 kilometres away.
