Volcanism of Chile

Volcanism in Chile as well as in other parts of the world is also associated with multiple natural hazards such as lahars, earthquakes, pyroclastic flows, toxic gases and ash.

Chile has been subject to volcanism since at least late Paleozoic when subduction along the western margin of South America began.

The Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) is the statutory agency of the Government of Chile which is responsible for volcano monitoring and hazard assessments.

[1] SERNAGEOMIN runs a national Volcano Hazards Program, along with the Observatorio Volcanológico de Los Andes del Sur (OVDAS).

The territories of Chile have 92 volcanoes that are considered potentially active,[2] 60 of which have had recorded eruptions in the last 450 years.

Following the eruption of the Chaitén volcano , a lahar destroyed much of the town of Chaitén .
Aerial view of the peak of Mount Villarrica