The government recently ranked the most dangerous volcanoes in Chile. This list is the result of a two-year study in which investigators categorized all volcanoes in the country. The Villarrica volcano was ranked as potentially dangerous.
The National Service of Geology and Mining released the ranking of the most dangerous volcanoes in Chile, with the Villarica volcano topping the list. This ranking was the result of a two-year study during which investigators identified 92 active volcano systems in the Chilean territory. This includes two more than the last ranking in 2017, but the increase is due to the addition of the Antarctic region.
With this new information, the government also identified the 14 most dangerous volcanoes, allowing local authorities to take the necessary precautions in anticipation of a possible eruption.
The most dangerous volcanoes in order are:
- Villarrica
- Llaima
- Calbuco
- Nevados de Chillán
- Puyehue-Cordón Caulle
- Osorno
- Mocho-Choshuenco
- Antuco
- Carrán-Los Venados
- Cerro Azul-Quizapu
- Chaitén
- Lonquimay
- Hudson
- Láscar
LOS 14 PRIMEROS LUGARES! Te presentamos los 14 volcanes con mayor riesgo específico y que se incluyen en nuestro nuevo "Ranking de Riesgo Específico de Volcanes Activos de Chile". Puedes revisar la ubicación de los 92 volcanes activos en https://t.co/WQuO8bfd53#VolcanesActivos pic.twitter.com/WKCjo9SNLD
— Sernageomin (@Sernageomin) February 20, 2020
The 92 active volcanic systems are further classified by their potential danger level. They are divided into five different types:
- Type 1: the most potentially dangerous, includes 14 volcanoes.
- Type 2: fairly dangerous, 16.
- Type 3: moderately dangerous, 20.
- Type 4: mildly dangerous, 23.
- Type 5: the least dangerous, 19.
Six of the potentially dangerous volcanoes are concentrated between the Araucanía Region and the Los Ríos Region. The Coquimbo region, on the other hand, is classified as the safest region, because it doesn’t have any potentially dangerous volcanoes.
This ranking was created by taking into consideration three factors: if the volcano is active, if it presents any volcanic danger (spewing lava, earthquakes, etc.), and, lastly, if it could have any impact on any nearby communities. These three factors are combined to measure how much damage a volcano could do if it erupts.
Diego Rivera is currently a senior in University, finishing up his audiovisual degree. You can find him on Twitter as @Piover45.