SANTIAGO, Chile -- Chile is issuing a red alert for a volcano on the border with Argentina that has become increasingly active.
The Copahue volcano straddling Argentina's Neuquen province started spewing ash and gas Saturday. Officials issued a yellow and orange alert.
Chile's emergency office ONEMI raised the alert Sunday in Chile's Biobio region after it registered seismic activity Saturday night and a cloud of ash almost a mile (1.5 kilometres) high.
The Mining Ministry's Sernageomin geology unit recommends careful observation of a 9-mile (15-kilometre) radius around the active crater in case of mudflows of volcanic fragments. Officials say there's no need yet to evacuate.
The Puyehue volcano in southern Chile erupted last year, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and the evacuation of thousands of people.
