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, in the country’s north, last Sunday morning by puzzled residents.
An extraordinary image shows the violet 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, the US Sun reports.
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.
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The site, owned by the Cosayach Saltpeter and Iodine Company, 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 iodine 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.
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 noncompliance 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 anticlimactic.
The mesmerising glow was actually coming from a nearby medicinal cannabis farm.
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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.
This article originally appeared in the US Sun and was reproduced with permission
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