Alert in Argentina for Peteroa volcano (updated)

Press reports this morning say that the authorities in Argentina have put out a yellow alert for Planchón-Peteroa volcano on the Argentine-Chilean border. An eruption which began on 18 September has produced a dense dark plume and ashfall across Argentine territory, and reports say that the volcano is increasing its activity. No evacuation has been ordered for nearby areas, but local inhabitants have been warned to take precautions against any increase in the ashfall.

The NASA Earth Observatory has a satellite image captured on 18 September of Planchón-Peteroa’s plume, which certainly looks very dark and ashy as it blows across Argentina (H/T: Eruptions).

UPDATE. Officials in Argentina now deny that any yellow alert has been applied to Peteroa, says the latest report in Diario Los Andes. However, both Chile and Argentina are continuing to monitor the volcano, the activity of which is described by Argentine geologists as ‘above normal’. There has been with light ashfall in areas affected by Peteroa’s plume, and a strong smell of sulphur has been reported. On the Argentine side of the border smallholders raise sheep and cattle in the area around the volcano, and there are concerns that they may be affected by the volcano’s emissions.

News
Volcán Peteroa: Informe proporcionado por ICES (Centro Internacional de Ciencias de la Tierra) – MendozaOpina.com, 20 September 2010
En Malargüe siguen de cerca la actividad del volcán Peteroa – Diario Los Andes, 21 September 2010
Alerta en Mendoza por la erupción de un volcán – Clarín.com, 22 September 2010
El Peteroa sigue activo, pero descartan declarar alerta amarilla – Diario Los Andes, 22 September 2010

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Planchón-Peteroa – summary information for Planchón-Peteroa (1507-04=)
Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería – SERNAGEOMIN, the Chilean state geological service