Villarrica: What are the risks of the volcano erupting according to scientists?

Chile remains on orange alert due to the volcano Villarrica, which has evolved into “a phase of greater instability.” The authorities of the regions of La Araucanía and Los Ríos foresee a possible eruption, remembering that the last one occurred in 2015.

He National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) Chile decreed an orange alert for the Villarrica volcano, due to the gradual increase in its volcanic activity.

“Strombolian explosions have been observed that generate emissions of ballistic-type pyroclastic material in the area proximal to the crater and dispersion of fine material,” notes the special report.

“The above suggests that the volcanic system has evolved towards a phase of greater instability”, Sernageomin added.

Located 83 kilometers from Temuco and 760 kilometers from Santiago, in the south-central area of ​​Chile, Villarrica is a stratovolcano 2,847 meters above sea level, 2,450 meters from the base. It is one of the most active in South America.

According to historical records, the volcano It has erupted at least 49 times since 1558. The majority have been of an effusive nature, the most important of the 20th century being the one that occurred in 1948, according to Sernageomin.

The exclusion radius established by the Chilean authorities It is 8 kilometers from the center of the active crater.

Álvaro Hormazábal, national director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred), indicated that due to the technical background was updated from yellow alert to orange.

“It keeps in force for the communes of Villarrica, Pucón, Curarrehue and Panguipulli, which will be accompanied by a reinforcement of technical monitoring of the behavior of the volcano and the determination of measures to protect the population,” Hormazábal indicated.

“The important thing,” says Alejandra Ávila, national director of Sernageomin, “is that the various Senapred institutions have technical information about what is happening, including the potential hazard map.”