Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service reported that the Lascar volcano stirred at 12.36am.

The volcano sent “an eruptive column” comprising volcanic ash and hot gases 6,000m above its crater, the service said.

Authorities alerted the nearest town, Talabre, 30km from the volcano, in case evacuations were required. But no property damage was reported, and the service maintained a green level, the lowest level of alert.

Lascar, with an elevation of 5,592m above sea level, is 70km from San Pedro de Atacama, a popular tourist centre that draws visitors for trekking, amateur astronomy and visits to the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth.

Lascar erupted in 1993 but also had lesser volcanic activity in 2006 and 2015.

Farther to the south, yellow alerts remain in effect for regions around the Nevados de Chillan volcanic complex, 385km south of the capital of Santiago, and the Villarica volcano 800km to the south.