Seismic activity has increased at Chaiten volcano in Chile since 20th September. Some earthquakes reached magnitude 3. The earthquakes are related to breaking of rocks and movement of magmatic fluids at shallow levels of the system. There is continued extrusion of the lava dome. The increase in seismic activity has not been correlated with a significant upturn in the eruptive activity, which has remained stable with a low emission rate. Gas and ash is being emitted from the dome. On 27th and 28th September, eruption columns reached 4.0 km above sea level. This activity is similar to that observed by John Seach during a climb to the summit in August 2008.
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