Tourist access to Poás Volcano closed after eruptions Monday

Tourist access to the Poás Volcano National Park in Alajuela was closed Monday morning as a preliminary measure after two explosions were recorded in the volcano’s crater.

“Phreatic eruption noted today at 8:58 a.m. The explosion expelled materials that reached the visitors’ area,” said the National Seismological and Volcanological Observatory (OVSICORI) on their Facebook profile.

National Emergency Commission spokeswoman Rebeca Madrigal confirmed that the organization began emergency protocols and evacuated visitors and park staff as a preventive measure. Access will remain closed for various hours while OVSICORI experts conduct an inspection in the crater, to further evaluate the situation.

“None of the people at the park were harmed and the evacuation was strictly a standard protocol,” Madrigal stressed.

OVSICORI will issue an updated report on the popular tourist destinations in coming hours, Madrigal added.