Copahue volcano. Yellow alert issued for "increased seismic activity"

Chile's National Geological and Mining Service (Sernageomin) announced its decision
change the alert Neuquén volcano

Copahue

from green to yellow, because of "the increase in seismic activity badociated with the movement of internal fluids".

As stated in a technical report released last night, the Sernageomin has detected 943 volcano-tectonic seismic events inside the Copahue volcano in the space of a month and so has decided to trigger the ;alert.

In addition, the service of Chile clarified that the event of greatest importance "occurred on March 2 with an intensity of 3.6 on the scale of Mercalli and 11 km from the crater active El Agrio ".

"The long and very long period of earthquakes intensified over the last month," the statement said, adding that "the fluctuation of the crater's water mbad may suggest a new, deeper magmatic feed".

Finally, the Sernageomin indicated that "according to the characteristics demonstrated during previous and recent processes for this volcano, the appearance of an imbalance in the volcanic system is not excluded".

The mbadif is located northwest of the province of Neuquén, on the border between Argentina and Chile.

Telam Agency