PERU-VOLCANO Volcanologists inspect Peru's Misti volcano

Record ID: 147405

  • Title: PERU-VOLCANO Volcanologists inspect Peru's Misti volcano
  • Date: 13th July 2015
  • Summary: LIMA, PERU (RECENT) (REUTERS) SPECIALIST FROM THE GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE OF PERU, JOSE MACHARE, LOOKING AT DRONE USED TO GATHER INFORMATION ON THE MISTI VOLCANO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPECIALIST FROM THE GEOPHYSICAL INSTITUTE OF PERU, JOSE MACHARE, SAYING: "The Misti is the volcano that presents high risk because it is close to the city of Arequipa which is the second larges
  • Embargoed: 28th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Peru
  • Country: Peru
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAAH6H9AHTS9MGLXOV7XZ3VQM5S
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Specialists in Peru are keeping a close eye on the Misti volcano in southern Peru which they say could devastate Peru's second largest city, Arequipa, if it were to erupt.
    A team of volcanologists from the Southern Volcanology Observatory at the Geophysical Institute of Peru hiked up the Misti volcano to take measurements as part of an effort to monitor the active volcano.
    The Misti is a stratovolcano built up of layer upon layer of hardened lava and volcanic ash spewed from its craters.
    Smoke-like steam and gas, known as fumaroles, can be observed rising from one of the volcanoes three craters.
    The volcano inspectors looked at these emissions as well as took temperature readings inside the crater during the expedition on June 23 and 24th.
    A specialist from the Geophysical Institute of Peru, Jose Machare, told Reuters it was important to keep an eye on the volcano because if it were to have a major eruption it could be devastating to the city of Arequipa which lies just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from its base.
    "The Misti is the volcano that presents high risk because it is close to the city of Arequipa which is the second largest city in Peru with almost a million inhabitants. Even though the volcano hasn't shown signs of reactivation, periodic inspections have to be carried out and it has to be constantly monitored to determine if at some point the volcano enters a state of unrest. Because even a small eruption of the Misti would cause a lot of damage to the city, especially to infrastructure and operations," Machare said.
    Permanent seismic monitoring stations have been installed at the volcano since 2005.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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