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
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