Powerful lava fountains from Villarrica’s summit vent on 31 Dec (image: POVI)
Strombolian activity has been picking up at the summit vent during the night from 30 to 31 December.
The Argentine Mining Geological Service’s (SEGEMAR) surveillance cameras registered pulsating strong lava fountains from the crater throwing incandescently molten and young lava fragments (so-called scoria) onto the western and northwestern slopes.
The volcano has been currently characterized by intense and elevated activity over the past two months or so dominated by lava spattering and/or fountaining phenomena.
Source: Argentine Mining Geological Service volcano activity update 1 January 2023