Chile's Chaiten Volcano
Renews Seismic Activity
The Chaiten volcano in
southern Chile has
renewed seismic activity
and police and military
personnel stationed
nearby have been ordered
to leave, local
officials said Friday.
Military police
patrolling the area said
they saw a thick cloud
of volcanic ash and
noticed a rise in the
water level of the
Blanco River, close to
the city of Chaiten.
Experts also confirmed
increased volcanic
activity, saying they
had detected a series of
tremors measuring
between 2 and 2.8
degrees on the Richter
scale since early
Thursday morning.
Chile's Defense Minister
Jose Goni announced
cancellation of a
scheduled visit to the
area by residents
evacuated on May 2, when
the volcano first
erupted after lying
dormant for centuries
and forced the
evacuation of some 4,000
people within a 30-km
radius.
The evacuees had planned
to return home to
retrieve their
belongings and vehicles.
A local official said
the displaced would not
be allowed to return to
the area until "we are
sure the strengthening
of the volcanic activity
is only temporary."
|
