The Chilean municipality of San Pedro de Atacama declares a yellow alert after the eruption of the Láscar volcano

MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Chilean municipality of San Pedro de Atacama, located in the Andes, has declared a yellow alert and established a security perimeter of five kilometers, after the Láscar volcano emitted a dense column of ash this Saturday afternoon.

The National Geology and Mining Service and the National Emergency Office of the Ministry of the Interior have declared an emergency after registering an earthquake associated with the "dynamics of fluids inside the volcanic system", after 12:00 p.m., as detailed in a statement collected by 'Bio Bio Chile'.

"From the beginning we have monitored the situation, and in addition, a team of professionals from the Service will travel to the area to hold informative meetings with authorities and the community," the agency's director said in the letter.

Both entities have reported that they will start a campaign to publicize the security measures to the inhabitants of the area and the tourist services.

According to the same media, this volcano emits eruptions from time to time and on occasion residents in the most dangerous area have had to be evacuated.