The Llaima volcano spews lava in Cherquenco town July 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SANTIAGO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Chile plans to invest 31 million U.S. dollars in building three monitoring centers to closely watch volcanic activities, the country's National Geology Service said Saturday.

    The new centers will be put into operation within five years and employ 40 experts, Mining Minister Santiago Gonzalez said.

    Chile has the second largest volcanic chain in the world following Indonesia. The country has 122 active volcanoes, but only eight of them have been closely watched, according to the National Geology Service.

    At the beginning of this month, top alert was issued around the Llaima volcano in south Chile days after it spewed new lava.

    The activity of Llaima coincided with the eruption of Chaiten volcano which nearly destroyed a nearby town and displaced 4,500 people.