News Laguna del Maule

 

The Argentine Mining Geological Service (SEGEMAR) and the Argentine Observatory for Volcanic Surveillance (OAVV) raised the Volcanic Alert Level to "Yellow", as an increase of seismic activity has been registered since 30 March.

The seismic station has detected approx. 10,000 volcano-tectonic earthquakes with local magnitudes M 2.5, 2.8 and 2.9 at depths between 4.5 and 8 km and arranged in a northeast-southeast trending linear area located about 10 km southwest of the lagoon center. The increase in the seismic activity is likely a sign that magma continues to intrude and push its way into deeper rock layers by cracking the crust.

Injections and migration under the surface is also supported by a recorded ground deformation of the surface. The ground has been bulged by 1.5 cm per month so far.

Following this scenario, an impending eruption is ruled out, although the volcanic complex remains above its normal activity. Keep in mind, even though the number of events and seismicity evolution has been taking place the longest since its monitoring beginning in 2012, the magnitudes calculated up to now have been of low energy and located on this specific sector.

Source: Argentine Observatory for Volcanic Surveillance volcano activity update 4 April 2023