Chile lowers alert level over Copahue eruption

Chile lifted the red alert it had previously issued due to the recent activity of the Copahue volcano, located on its border with Argentina, after the Emergency National Office (ONEMI) said it had registered a decrease in volcanic activity.

In its last report from 9:37 PM, the ONEMI said that the Mining and Geology National Service had decided to lower the alert from red to orange, although it recommended “special attention for those within a 5 kilometers radius of the active crater.”

The volcano’s eruption process continues to show a minor intensity. However, we can still identify the presence of a –so far- small body of magma,” the report explained.

ONEMI head Ricardo Toro explained that the “change in the alert level implies that we maintain a close monitoring of the volcano” and emergency plans in case of a large eruption remain in place.