Chilean authorities in the country's south have begun rehearsing evacuation plans amid concern an active volcano could potentially erupt within "days or weeks."
Volcano Villarrica, near the popular tourist resort of Pucon around 750 km (460 miles) south of the capital Santiago, was upgraded to an "amber alert," after it began rumbling and hurling lava into the air late on Tuesday. The amber alert by the National Geology and Mining Service (SERNAGEOMIN) implies a "significant" increase in activity.
Alvaro Amigo, head of the national network of volcano vigilance for SERNAGEOMIN, said Villarica could erupt within "days or weeks."