The Colombian Geological Service reported that the volcanic cone whose last eruption was in 1977 has increased its activity.
By: Héctor Fabio Muñoz Figueroa – @hefamu1
The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) informed the public that the alert status of the Puracé volcano changes to Orange based on the comprehensive evaluation of the monitored parameters, which register significant changes in three variables: seismicity, soil deformation and changes in the type of gases and fluids that the volcano emits. Factors that, together, indicate that now the probability of an eruption is greater, without meaning that it will occur.
According to the volcanic monitoring records that the SGC carries out 24/7, during recent weeks the Puracé volcano has shown a significant increase in earthquakes associated with rock fracturing and the movement of fluids inside the volcano, located at depths between 0 and 4 kilometers in relation to the surface. Likewise, the data telemetry systems collected by the surveillance network show that the volcano building continues to gradually deform and that there is a small magmatic body, located 2 km deep, which is migrating to the surface. In turn, it has been identified that the gas emissions generated by the volcano indicate a greater contribution from the magmatic system.
“As we have warned on several occasions, it is scientifically impossible to predict an eruption and any volcano, as long as it is active, can erupt at any time. However, with Puracé’s current level of activity, the country must be prepared and take the necessary preventive actions to avoid a disaster in the event of a significant eruption. It is essential not to approach the crater area, since people are at great risk of being affected by gases or ash emissions that may occur suddenly.“warns John Makario Londoño, director of the Geothreats technical area of the SGC.
While the Orange alert status is maintained, it is possible that temporary fluctuations may occur in the activity levels of the volcano, that is, at some times it may decrease compared to previous days or weeks. However, this does not imply that the volcano has returned to a stable state 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.
Latest activity and monitoring
Since 2021, the Puracé volcano has been showing gradual changes in its activity. One of the most notable was the increase in seismic activity, which occurred in March 2022, the month in which the highest number of daily earthquakes was recorded since the SGC began its monitoring. These variations were recorded before the occurrence of a small phreatic eruption in the crater of the Curiquinga volcano, on March 29, 2022, one of the fifteen volcanoes that, together with Puracé, make up the Los Coconucos Volcanic Chain (CVLC). At that time (March 30, 2022), the SGC changed the alert status of the volcano to Yellow, due to the high variability observed in the number and location of seismic fracture and fluid movement events after the eruption. .
The Popayán Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of the SGC has monitored the activity of the Puracé volcano since the late 1980s. Currently it is one of the best instrumented volcanoes in the country, that is, one of the ones with the most equipment to understand its behavior and changes in your activity. Currently, it has a surveillance network made up of 97 stations, of which 60 have a data telemetry system; while, in the remaining 37, data are acquired directly at sampling points.
Population at risk of threat
According to the volcanic threat map of the Puracé volcano, prepared by the SGC in 2014, the area of influence of this geological structure is mainly inhabited by indigenous and peasant communities. The municipalities with the highest risk of threat in the event of a considerable eruption are Puracé, Popayán and Sotará, located in the department of Cauca. Likewise, the Puracé, Kokonuko and Paletará Indigenous Reservation, the indigenous resettlement of Juan Tama of the Páez ethnic group (Nasa people) and the settlement of the Misak people, indigenous territories belonging to the Kokonuko ethnic group or people.
In these towns volcanic phenomena could occur such as pyroclastic flows (in the case of Puracé) and lahars or mud flows (for the town of Paletará and Popayán).
In the case of Huila, the populations that would eventually be affected by a volcanic event are: Isnos, San Agustín, Pitalito, Saladoblanco, Palestine, Acevedo, Oporapa, Timaná, Elías, Tarqui, La Argentina and Nátaga mainly.
From the SGC, the recommendation for all communities, especially those that inhabit the area of influence of the Puracé volcano, is to always be attentive to the official information provided by the Entity under an exercise of trust sustained over time with the traditional authorities. through junctions, assemblies and meetings, among other spaces and channels such as the activation of the chain of calls for decision-making.
“We invite local and national authorities and actors in charge of risk management in the country to make decisions for the well-being of people based on the scientific information provided by the SGC, which is based on years of study and permanent monitoring of this volcano“said Julio Fierro Morales, general director of the SGC.
From now on, while the Puracé volcano remains in a state of Orange alert, the periodicity of the bulletins in which we report on its activity will be daily, they will be published on the Entity’s website and social networks, as well as they will be sent to the media. local and national communication networks in a timely manner.
To learn in detail the changes that led to the change in alert status announced today, as well as the superficial manifestations that may occur, consult the technical bulletin here.
About the Puracé volcano
The Puracé volcano is one of the 25 active volcanic structures that we monitor from the Colombian Geological Service (SGC). It is located 27 km southeast of Popayán, in the department of Cauca, and is one of the fifteen volcanoes that make up the Los Coconucos Volcanic Chain (CVLC). It is characterized by being a stratovolcano with a predominance of explosive-type activity and has two craters: an outer one, 900 meters in diameter, and an internal one, 550 meters in diameter. Its last eruption of considerable magnitude occurred in March 1977, and since 1827 at least 14 more minor eruptions have been described, causing material damage and loss of life. For this reason, it is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the country.
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