Abstract

On May 2, 2008 a Plinian eruption began on Chaitén volcano. Dome growing stage would have started on May 10-12 and extensive lahars and floods affected Chaitén town (ca. 5,000 inhabitants) on May 12. A volume up to ca. 4 km3 (non DRE) of rhyolitic magma would be extruded mostly during the explosive phase. Eruptive activity has not completely finished by the end of November. Because of the wide impact of this type of volcanism, this eruption poses a series of questions regarding explosive volcanism that should be addressed in the near future.