Chile: Lashkar Volcano activated

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Authorities raised the alert level in the wider area from green to yellow and announced a five-kilometer security perimeter around the volcano, where there are pastures and climbing camps.

The Lascar volcano in northern Chile — 1,600 kilometers from the capital Santiago — “awakened” yesterday Saturday, with smoke rising 6 kilometers from the crater and intense seismic activity in the region.

Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service (SERNAGEOMIN) says in a statement that the Lascar volcano was activated at 12:36 (local time) yesterday Saturday. Since Lashkar’s flare-up of volcanic activity, a plume of smoke has reached a height of 6 kilometers from the crater, according to satellite observations.

Authorities raised the alert level in the wider area from green to yellow and announced a five-kilometer security perimeter around the volcano, where there are pastures and climbing camps.

The yellow alert level is activated when a volcano shows erratic activity, with small eruptions and the release of clouds from the crater. The relevant aviation security agency has also been informed.

No injuries or damage to infrastructure have been reported. The village of Talambre, 30 kilometers away from the volcano, has been put on high alert so that residents are ready for possible evacuation.

The 5,592-meter-high Lascar is located in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile, 70 kilometers away from the tourist attraction of San Pedro de Atacama.

The last major eruption of the Lashkar volcano occurred in 1993, while activity similar to the current one was recorded in 2006 and 2015.

RES-EMP

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