Due to intense seismic activity, the Copahue volcano is on yellow alert

The Copahue volcano, located on the border with Chile, is on yellow alert because of the increase in seismic activity in the region.

The resolution was adopted by the National Geological and Mining Service of Chile (Sernageomin), which reported that 943 seismic events badociated with the fracturing of rigid materials had been detected in the last month. last March with an intensity of 3.6 on the scale of Mercalli and 11 km from the active crater El Agrio. "

"The long-lasting and very long-lasting earthquakes have intensified in the last month" compared to February, said the trans-Andean body.

CHANGE COPEHUE ALARM VOLCANO !! The alert of the Copahue Volcano has been changed from green to yellow, mainly due to an increase in seismic activity badociated with the movement of internal fluids. Attached report of our NVR. Always stay informed in @onemichile pic.twitter.com/LnpkYuhBJH

– Sernageomin (@Sernageomin) April 5, 2019

The Sernageomin said that it had been observed through the various surveillance cameras that "the fluctuation of the crater's water mbad might suggest a new magmatic feed from deeper levels".

"Due to the characteristics observed, the occurrence of a volcanic imbalance involving minor explosions is not excluded," said the National Service of Geology and Mines of Chile.

In this regard, the undersecretary of Civil Defense of Neuquén, Martín Giusti, clarified in the dialogue with TN that the measure adopted by the authorities of the neighboring country "is only because the volcanic activity has shown changes".

"The volcano is monitored 24 hours on the Argentine and Chilean sides," said a provincial official, who warned that "people should not approach more than 500 meters."

The #Copahue arrive at #AlertaAmarilla! After more than a month of swarms in nearby faults, the fluids beneath the volcano began to move with more desire. This increase in activity escapes the base, and therefore the change.
Now it looks like piola, but a lot of things are going on underneath. pic.twitter.com/pLQeBq86lw

– Cristian Farías (@cfariasvega) April 5, 2019

The Copahue volcano is located 300 km north-west of the city of Neuquén, on the Chilean side of the Andes, but on the very border between the two countries.

"This corresponds to a predominantly andesitic stratovolcano that has a dozen craters, concentrating recent activity in the crater called El Agrio, which exhibits permanent fumarolic activity and an acidic lake in. And domes of Rhyolitic lava, it has a permanent cover on the glaciers and, therefore, is a potential generator of lahars that can reach long distances through the Chilean and Argentine valleys ", explains Sernageomin. (N / A)