A sleeping volcano awakens
Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, located in the border between the regions of La Auracania and Los Rios Region, in southern Chile, forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. And now, it’s showing activity again.
- View of the Volcano Villarrica in southern Chile which began erupting on March 03, 2015 forcing the evacuation of some 3,000 people in nearby villages, the government said. The Villarrica volcano, one of Chile’s most active, began erupting around 3:00 am (0600 GMT), prompting authorities to declare a red alert and cancel classes in schools, the National Emergency Office said. (Francisco Negroni/AFP/Getty Images)
- Picture released by Atonchile showing the Villarrica volcano, 1200 km from Santiago, in southern Chile which began erupting on March 3, 2015 forcing the evacuation of some 3,000 people in nearby villages. The Villarrica volcano, one of Chile’s most active, began erupting around 3:00 am (0600 GMT), prompting authorities to declare a red alert and cancel classes in schools, the National Emergency Office said. (Carlos Rocuant)
- Handout picture released by Chile’s Police of an aerial view of the Villarrica volcano, near Villarrica in southern Chile, showing no visible signs of activity just a couple of hours after it erupted on March 3, 2015. The Villarrica erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people in nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, one of Chile’s most active, began spewing lava and ash around 3:00 am (0600 GMT), prompting authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. But within about seven hours the eruption calmed, and there were no longer any visible signs of activity.
- Handout picture released by the Chilean Air Force of an aerial view of the Villarrica volcano, near Villarrica in southern Chile, showing no visible signs of activity just a couple of hours after it erupted on March 3, 2015. The Villarrica erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people in nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, one of Chile’s most active, began spewing lava and ash around 3:00 am (0600 GMT), prompting authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. But within about seven hours the eruption calmed, and there were no longer any visible signs of activity.
- A Chilean national flag is seen with the Villarrica volcano in the background, near Villarrica in southern Chile, showing no visible signs of activity just a couple of hours after it erupted on March 3, 2015. The Villarrica erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people in nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, prompted authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. But within about seven hours the eruption calmed, and there were no longer any visible signs of activity. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- The Villarrica volcano, near Villarrica in southern Chile, shows some activity on March 4, 2015 a day after it erupted. The Villarrica erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of almost 4,000 people in nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, prompted authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano, from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing no visible signs of activity on March 5, 2015. The Villarrica erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people in nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, prompted authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. Chile keeps the red alert two days after the Villarrica volcano erupted but reduced the risk area from 10 to 5 km. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- An employee of the National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry crosses the Turbio river after its bridge was destroyed by stones and volcanic material of the Villarrica volcano in Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, on March 5, 2015. The Villarrica erupted early Tuesday, spewing fiery plumes of lava into the night sky and forcing the evacuation of some 3,600 people in nearby towns. In its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica volcano, prompted authorities to declare a red alert, the National Emergency Office said. Chile keeps the red alert two days after the Villarrica volcano erupted but reduced the risk area from 10 to 5 km. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- The Villarrica volcano, in the 9th region of La Auracania in southern Chile, shows visible signs of activity on March 18, 2015 prompting authorities to declare an orange alert. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Sebastian Escobar/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing no visible signs of activity on March 19, 2015. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing no visible signs of activity on March 19, 2015. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing no visible signs of activity on March 19, 2015. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing no visible signs of activity on March 19, 2015. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- Smoke billows from the Villarrica volcano, as seen from Pucon, in the 9th region of La Auracania in southern Chile, on March 19, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- Handout picture released by Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) showing smoke billowing from the Villarrica volcano, in the border between the regions of La Auracania and Los Rios Region, in southern Chile, on March 18, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash.
- Picture of the Villarrica volcano taken on March 20, 2015 from Pucon, in southern Chile, as it shows renewed activity two weeks after its eruption. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- Picture of the Villarrica volcano taken on March 20, 2015 from Pucon, in southern Chile, as it shows renewed activity two weeks after its eruption. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- Night view of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, on March 20, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 20, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano from Pucon, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 21, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 25, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Sebastian Escobar/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 25, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Sebastian Escobar/AFP/Getty Images)
- View of the Villarrica volcano, some 800 km south of Santiago, showing visible signs of activity on March 25, 2015. Earlier this month, in its first major eruption in 15 years, the Villarrica forced the evacuation of thousands of people amid a shower of fire and ash. (Sebastian Escobar/AFP/Getty Images)