Volcano warning after 160 earthquakes in just two hours

Located near the Argentine border, Laguna del Maule is a sprawling volcanic landscape

Jorge Vega,
Alexander Villegas
Sunday 13 April 2025 05:52 BST



Laguna del Maule is a volcanic field in the Andes mountain range of Chile

Getty/iStock

A flurry of seismic activity that caused 160 quakes in just two hours at the Laguna del Maule volcanic field in central Chile has put authorities on alert.

160 quakes occurred in the area during a two-hour period earlier this week, which served as a stark reminder of the volcanic complex's active nature.

Located near the Argentine border, approximately 300km south of the Chilean capital, Laguna del Maule is a sprawling volcanic landscape. Covering 500 square kilometres, the complex comprises numerous volcanic domes, cones, lava flows, and an estimated 130 vents.

Chile's National Geology and Mining Service - Sernageomin - has, however, maintained a green alert level, signifying no immediate danger. The quakes were also of low magnitude.

The recent seismic swarm underscores the volcano's underlying activity. "These are signs that the volcano is active, it has magma, what's inside is moving and this can lead to a moderate-sized event in the future," explained Ayaz Alam, a geologist and professor at the University of Santiago of Chile.

More:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/chile-andes-earthquake-laguna-del-maule-volcano-b2732340.html