El Misti Volcano Waking Up after Centuries of Sleep

Published:

Jan 30 2016

By Anna Norris

El Misti, as seen from the city of Arequipa, Peru. Almost 1 million people live within 20 miles of the iconic volcano. (iStock/jirivondrous)

For the first time in more than 500 years, Peru's El Misti volcano is showing signs of potentially eruptive activity.

According to the committee charged with volcanic risk management for the region of Arequipa, El Misti is one of a dozen potentially active volcanoes in Peru but its proximity to a million residents have the officials concerned.

Gas emissions and magmatic activity have been recorded, Peru This Week reports, but officials note the activity does not necessarily pose an immediate danger of eruption.

Officials warned people living nearby to refrain from building property too close to the volcano and to be prepared for evacuations, Wired reports.

According to the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, El Misti is Peru's most well-known volcano and hasn't had a major eruption since the 15th century.