Industry News
July has marked the latest series of high volcanic activity at the Villarrica Volcano above Centro Ski Pucon, Chile. The volcano, which reaches a height of 9,383 feet (2,860 meters) and last erupted in 2015 but was seen emitting massive plumes of smoke on Sunday, July 21, 2024. This event follows concerning activity earlier in the month, which saw a hazard zone of 6,562 feet (2,000 meters) established around the crater by officials from the Chilean National Geology and Mineral Service (SERNAGEOMIN).
Increased volcanic activity has been recorded since the end of last year, marking the stratovolcano’s latest eruption cycle. No one was injured in the event, but scientists say that three separate emissions from the volcano caused “long-period earthquakes” in the area on July 21, 2024. The alert level has remained at yellow, the second lowest of four levels, for most of 2024.
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Located 470 miles south of Santiago, the Villarrica Volcano is one of Chile’s most active volcanos. It is also home to one of Southern Chile’s most modern ski resorts, Centro Ski Pucon. Nine chairlifts serve a small footprint with almost 3,000 feet of vertical drop. The town of Pucon, Chile, is known as the “adventure capital” of the country and sits at the base of the volcano. The town has not been evacuated but instead put on a warning. Thousands of residents were evacuated after the large eruptions in 2015. Scientists say they will continue to monitor the volcano’s activity closely.
The ski resort was forced to close for the season following the major eruptions in March of 2015. Yellow alerts were issued in February of that year by both SERNAGEOMIN and the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED). The volcano officially began erupting a month later on March 3, 2015 and continued erupting for months. The highest level alerts, orange and red, were issued throughout the season, and all recreation and industry endeavors were prohibited on the mountain. Alerts were lowered to the yellow level on June 8, 2015. The last time alert levels reached orange was after irregular activity in September of 2023.
Low-level Strombolian activity is common on the Villarrica Volcano. Strombolian activity is described as short, discrete bursts of gas and magma that can project incandescent material hundreds of meters into the air. Other types of activity, such as Plinian or Vulcanian eruptions, tend to be much larger and more predictable compared to smaller, more frequent, and volatile Strombolian eruptions. Although most historic volcanic events, such as the Mount St. Helens’ eruption, have been attributed to Plinian eruptions, elevated Strombolian activity can still pose a threat to people and the environment.
Scientists say that this recent string of activity has exceeded the baseline level of normal Strombolian activity. Alert levels remain at yellow, though, and the ski resort continues to operate during this record-breaking snowfall season in Chile. Almost 400 inches of snow have fallen at Ski Centro Pucon since the season began, and another large storm cycle is making its way into Chile this week. As epic snowfall continues to hit Ski Centro Pucon, this record-breaking season may be your only chance to ski world-class conditions on an active volcano.
