The activity related to the movement of fluids showed a slight increase in terms of number of events and energy released.
The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) has been permanently monitoring the activity of the Puracé volcano – Los Coconucos volcanic chain, so that the community is officially informed.
In a bulletin issued this May 9, the SGC says that yesterday (May 8) and today, the seismic activity associated with rock fracturing inside the volcanic building It maintained similar behavior to that observed in previous days.
Meanwhile, activity related to the movement of fluids showed a slight increase in terms of number of events and energy released compared to yesterday (May 8). The locations of the fracture earthquakes continue to be located under the crater of the Puracé volcano and its eastern flank, at depths of up to 3.5 km.
The maximum calculated magnitude was 1.6 ML, corresponding to an earthquake recorded today (May 9) at 5:30 am. Seismicity related to fluid movement continues to be concentrated in the crater sector and on its northern flank, depths less than 1.5 km.
The record of earthquakes associated with the rise, emplacement or movement of magma, which have been located under the Piocollo and Curiquinga eruptive centers at depths between 1 and 3 km, continue to show a decrease, compared to yesterday (May 8). . Due to the low visibility associated with the meteorological conditions, during the time evaluated in this bulletin it was not possible to observe the gas column.
The soil deformation processes and the concentrations of the gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) did not show changes and their values continue to be above the known baselines for this volcano.
The SGC confirms that the alert status of the Puracé Volcano continues in orange: volcano with important changes in the monitored parameters. Although it is possible that the levels of seismic activity, as well as those of degassing, decrease or are oscillatory, in the sense of increasing some days and decreasing others, this does not imply that the volcano has returned to its normal levels of activity.
To return to a minor alert state (Yellow) a reasonable time is required in which all the monitored parameters are evaluated and trends that may indicate greater stability are determined. During this time, in the event of an acceleration of processes suggesting an imminent eruption or the eruption itself occurring, the alert status level will be changed to Red.
We recommend that the community remain calm and follow all instructions from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd), as well as local authorities. In addition, be attentive to the information provided by the Colombian Geological Service on the evolution of the state of the volcano, and ignore messages that circulate on social networks and that do not come from official sources.
Firefighter Recommendations
Given the Orange alert from the Puracé volcano, through a video, Popayán Firefighters recommend that citizens take care of their health. Use masks and protective glasses to avoid inhalation of volcanic ash and eye irritation, cover water sources and food so that they do not become contaminated.