ONEMI rules out danger in areas adjacent to Llaima volcano “because there are no people there”

SANTIAGO.-  After the violent reactivation of the Llaima volcano registered early this morning, the director of the National Emergency Office (ONEMI, Carmen Fernández, has pointed out that the areas adjacent to the peak do not present a high amount of risk to humans, since the sectors have already been evacuated.

During an interview with Emol, Fernández stated, “in the areas of highest risk there is no danger because there are no people there”, clarifying that in Vilcún, a red alert was declared for close to 3,000 hectares and 60 people were evacuated.

At 3:20 AM this morning the volcano began to register explosions within the crater, ejecting pyroclastic material some 400 meters into the air.  Fernández has announced that authorities are currently examining the perimeters of the volcano to determine whether any of the lava flows may have changed course towards another area.

“There was a long period of time when the mountain registered a decline in activity, especially over the past 48 hours, however this morning a significant eruption occurred”, stated Fernández.