'Zombie' Volcano Uturuncu Shows Signs of Imminent Eruption

Uturuncu, a 'zombie' volcano in Bolivia's Andes Mountains that has not erupted in 250,000 years, is showing signs of potential eruption, including increased seismic activity, gas emissions, and a distinctive 'sombrero' ground deformation pattern. Scientists from the University of Oxford have linked these phenomena to the movement of liquid and gas beneath the crater, which sits atop one of the largest known magma bodies in Earth's crust. Uturuncu, a stratovolcano similar to Mount St. Helens and Mount Vesuvius, stands over 19,700 feet high and lies within 25 miles of three towns, raising concerns about widespread destruction and threats to life. Recent detection of more than 1,700 earthquakes around the volcano has prompted researchers to use seismic tomography to create detailed images of its interior, revealing possible paths for upward-moving hot fluids and gases. An eruption could result in lava flows engulfing nearby communities and ash spreading across Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. The situation is being closely monitored as scientists work to understand how a long-dormant volcano can reawaken.