Chile on High Alert as Villarrica Volcano Activity Surges

Chile has raised the alert level for the Villarrica volcano to orange, the second-highest, due to a gradual increase in its activity. As a result, 30 families living within an 8km radius of the crater will be evacuated, and access to the area will be blocked. Schools in nearby towns will close for five days, and online teaching will be implemented. The popular snow-capped volcano, located 750km south of the capital, has a history of eruptions dating back to the 16th Century.