Mystery as purple cloud appears in sky over Chile leaving residents baffled | The Sun
A MYSTERIOUS mauve cloud staining the sky above a town in Chile has left locals baffled.
The purple phenomenon was spotted hovering low over the city of Pozo Almonte on Sunday morning by puzzled residents.
An extraordinary image shows the violent tint stretching across the skyline in the daytime snap.
The captivating cloud is believed to have been caused by a pump failure at a nearby minerals plant.
Officials launched an investigation into the purple haze after receiving numerous reports from concerned locals.
The fluorescent display is suspected to be the result of iodine vapour seeping from the Cala Cala mine.
Read more world news
Moment orca rips out 30ft whale’s TONGUE and drowns it in ferocious battle
Russian troops massing at Europe’s biggest nuke plant amid fears of Chernobyl 2.0
The site, owned by the Saltpetre and Iodine Company (Cosayach), is said to have suffered a pump failure, prompting the purple cloud.
Deputy head of Chile's Tarapaca Region Christian Ibanez explained: "We are carrying out an inspection, which tells us that this incident was due to the failure of a motor of the impeller pump."
According to environmental officials, the malfunction caused idione at the mine to change from a solid to a gaseous state.
When heated, the element forms a violet vapour. Pure iodine is also purple.
Most read in The Sun
I won the lottery with my girlfriend but she left me and took all the money
Secret funeral for Darius with Gerard Butler joining family to say farewell
Ronaldo wants to buy and demolish golf club ruining view from £17m mansion
McDonald's reveals new menu shake-up and a popular item is coming back
Tarapaca Region representative Daniel Quinteros assured residents: "Until now, there have been no medical consultations or affectations as a result of the situation we are experiencing.
"We are also in contact with the Superintendency of Environment so that tomorrow we can evaluate the filing of a complaint for non-compliance with the regulations and the commitments made by the company in environmental matters."
Officials remained on site at the plant for 48 hours to monitor the situation after the cloud later faded away.
It comes after a peculiar pink glow resembling "something out of Stranger Things" emerged in Australia.
Incredible images of the stunning spectacle show the night sky in Mildura, Victoria, shining pink in what appears to be in a circular formation.
But much to the dismay of UFO-lovers, the explanation was slightly anti-climatic.
The mesmerising glow was actually coming from a nearby medicinal cannabis farm.
Read More on The Sun
People always mispronounce my name…I got someone fired for saying it wrong
Parents’ fury as teacher ‘compares girls as young as 11 to prostitutes’
The blinds in one of the growing sheds at the Cann Pharmaceutical company had been left open while the powerful LED lights were glaring.
The pink lights in the commercial harvesting shed burst through the gaps to create a sensational display in the sky.
Source: Read Full Article