Experts rule out connection between Chilean volcano eruptions

The Chilean National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) Friday dismissed any linkage between the recent eruptions of the Calbuco Volcano in southern Chile and other volcanic activities in the country.

Calbuco Volcano, located in the Llanquihue National Reserve, 900 km south of the country's capital Santiago, roared violently into action on Wednesday evening, spitting out a plume of volcanic ash which led to the evacuation of approximately 4,500 residents who lived within a radius of 20 km from the volcano.

"The relationship between the different volcano eruptions has been generally discarded by the vast majority of scientists," said Rodrigo Alvarez, director of Sernageomin.

Calbuco's outburst came as a surprise to the Chilean scientific community as Calbuco had not been under any special observation, according to local media. The eruption came after ash spouted a few weeks ago from the Villarrica Volcano, which is located near the popular tourist resort of Pucon.

While talking about Calbuco, the director of Sernageomin cautioned about predicting how long the volcanic activity may last.

"We are in a volcano crisis. It (Calbuco) hasn't finished its eruptive process. It's on red alert. This is a complex situation which will continue to vary, but hasn't finished yet. A situation like this could last weeks or months. However, the intensity will decrease," said Alvarez.

"After the two pulses (of eruption within Calbuco), the volcanic chamber will have to adjust and this will almost certainly mean that we will have new eruptions," added Alvarez.

The government official warned of further, more aggressive situations with the likelihood of lava being spewed.

Although considered among the top three most potentially dangerous of Chile's 90 active volcanoes, the recent activity in Calbuco marks the volcano's first eruption since 1972. Endi