Evacuation declared in Chile and Argentina due to increased activity of Copahue volcano

Over 3,000 Chileans and Argentinians will be evacuated from a 25-km-radius zone around the Copahue volcano on the border between the two countries due to its increased seismic activity, authorities have announced after declaring a “red alert”.

“According to the Sernageomin (National Geological and Mining Service), the volcano is now in a process that could culminate in an eruption, for that reason we've issued a red alert and the evacuation,” Chilean Interior Minister Andres Chadwick is cited as saying.
The volcano is located 500 km south of Chilean capital of Santiago, between Chile's Bio Bio region and Argentina's Neuquen province.

As mass media report, the Ralco and Pangue hydroelectric dams located in Bio Bio region and operated by power generator Endesa Chile, have not been affected by the evacuation order. Water levels at the dams are at technical low, and the dams’ walls are designed to withstand the earthquake, a company source has told.