U.S. helps Chile build volcano warning net

WASHINGTON, June 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Geological Survey says it is working with the Chilean government to develop a volcano early warning and emergency response system.

The Chaiten volcano erupted in Chile May 2. Following that event, the USGS helped Chile install a monitor at Chaiten that transmits real time data to help warn the public of further eruptions.

The USGS signed a letter of intent June 13 with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to help establish a volcano early warning system.

"There was virtually no instrumental monitoring at Chaiten volcano prior to the eruption," said USGS scientist John Ewert. "Without the monitoring, people nearby or at risk have almost no time to prepare themselves, their families or their possessions for what may be a life-altering event."

USGS officials said Chile's volcano early warning system will be modeled after a plan the government agency released in 2005 that systematically ranks the most dangerous U.S. volcanoes and assesses monitoring gaps at each of them.

The United States has 169 potentially active volcanoes, half of which have some monitoring, and five volcano observatories, the USGS said, while Chile has 120 potentially active volcanoes and one volcano observatory for the nation.