Mysterious purple cloud spotted eerily hanging over a village baffles locals

Locals in Chile have been left perplexed by a fluorescent purple cloud spotted hovering over their homes amid several theories for its creation, including a possible leak from a mine

A mysterious purple cloud that hovered eerily over a town has baffled experts and locals.

Pictures of the wispy formation were taken as it hung low over Pozo Almonte in northern Chile on Sunday morning.

The incredible images show the vibrant purple stretching across the otherwise cloudless sky.

South American officials are now investigating the puzzling phenomenon with several potential explanations put forward.

Some believe it was caused by a pump failure at a nearby minerals plant, with the display a result of iodine vapour leaking from the Cala Cala mine.

Christian Ibanez, deputy head of Chile’s Tarapaca Region, said: “We are carrying out an inspection, which tells us that this incident was due to the failure of a motor of the impeller pump.”

Environmental official Emanuel Ibarra added the pump failure had caused iodine at the plant to change from a solid to a gaseous state, causing the fluorescent display above people’s heads.

Tarapaca Region representative Daniel Quinteros said: “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.”

Earlier this year stargazers were left puzzled when they saw spiralling blue light formations in the sky.

Alasdair Burns, a stargazing guide in New Zealand, received a text from a pal at about 7.25pm local time saying to go and look at the sky.

He earlier told the Guardian: “As soon as we actually went outside, it was very obvious what it was he was referring to.”

Alasdair says he saw a massive, blue spiral of light in the sky.

He added: “It looked like an enormous spiral galaxy, just hanging there in the sky, and slowly just drifting across. Quite an eerie feeling.”

The stargazer took a few images on his phone using the long exposure function.

New Zealand’s stargazing community shared on social media their thoughts on the phenomenon while sharing images and questions.

Theories ranging from UFOs to foreign rockets to commercial light displays were all speculated.

One stargazer wrote online: “Premonition from our orbital black hole.”

Another added: “Aliens at it again.”