The Colombian Geological Service issued an extraordinary newsletter announcing an increase in the activity of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano and other important changes in this volcanic edifice. However, it is very important to keep in mind that the volcano continues in activity level yellow or III, which is how it has been in the last decade.
The newsletter addressed to Governors of Caldas, Tolima, Cundinamarca, Risaralda and Quindío begins by saying that in addition to an increase in seismic activity, there has also been a “change in minor deformations of the volcanic surface”.
The Colombian Geological Service also notes that there has been increase in ash emissions of the volcano and that these particles have also shown a increase in the size of the particles emitted by the Ruiz and indicates in the bulletin that this could indicate a possible rupture in the dome or top of the mountain or the plug that has the crateralthough it specifies that to know with certainty it is necessary to do some analysis of the participated material that they have found up to 3 kilometers around the volcanic edifice and based on those studies.
Also read: Nevado del Ruiz volcano will continue to emit ash, warns the Colombian Geological Service
It says in the document Colombian Geological Service that because of this increased care and monitoring of the volcano and that only until they have the results of the analysis of samples of the volcanic material will they inform those who produce the analysis.
They also talk about several moderate-level thermal anomalies that were recorded in the last few hours and that were captured by the volcano monitoring camerasdespite adverse weather conditions. Specifies the newsletter there may be an increase in the temperature of the dome in relation to previous days.
The Colombian Geological Service indicated that it is “very likely that the volcano continues to emit gases and ash, which were dispersed according to the prevailing wind regime at the time of emission, which would imply ash fall in the towns located in the prevailing wind direction at that time. Another possibility is that there is an acceleration of the volcanic process that leads to changes in the level of activity of the volcano.
Read here: Alert in Risaralda due to ash fall from the Nevado del Ruiz volcano
In the afternoon and evening of yesterday there was ash fall in Dosquebradas and Pereira and this even forced the closure of operations in the Matecana Airport of the Risaraldense capital.
The Nevado del Ruiz Volcano continues at level yellow activity. At this level, phenomena such as swarms of earthquakes, some of them felt, ash emissions, lahars, morphological changes, noises and smells of volcanic gases, among others, that can alter the quality of life of the populations in the zone of volcanic influence.
Although the volcano instability has lasted for more than eleven years, it is vitally important not to get used to their behavior and be attentive to the official information published by the Colombian Geological Service. It is reiterated to the authorities in the departments of Caldas, Tolima, Risaralda, Quindío and Cundinamarca extreme actions focused on processes of knowledge and risk reduction, as well as disaster management as preparation measures for future activity of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
