No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeBREAKING: New explosions at Turrialba Volcano

BREAKING: New explosions at Turrialba Volcano

Two new explosion of gas and ash Friday mid-morning broke a brief period of low activity at Turrialba Volcano, located in the province of Cartago, 67 kilometers from the capital San José.

The new explosions follow one that occurred at 4:30 a.m. Friday and four on Thursday.

The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI)’s web cameras recorded the explosions Friday. The agency reported that columns of material reached some 1,500 meters high (4,921 feet), similar to those recorded on Thursday.

Spewings of ash and gases lasted for periods of some 30 minutes, OVSICORI reported.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=809637015740225

Volcanologists are currently examining samples of materials expelled by the volcano in order to determine whether there’s fresh magma, Eliécer Duarte González, a volcanologist with OVSICORI’s Volcano Surveillance Department, told The Tico Times.

“So far, we don’t have any visual confirmation on magma levels rising up,” he said, “however the characteristics of the explosions suggest magma levels could be increasing inside the crater,” he said Friday morning.

Earlier on Friday, National Police officers closed all main access roads to the volcano, allowing passage only to residents and workers in nearby communities.

Following recommendations of the National Emergency Commission, Public Education Ministry officials suspended classes in 19 schools: 12 in Turrialba and 7 in other cantons of Cartago.

False rumor of water contamination

Hundreds of people reacted with alarm Friday morning to rumors circulating on social networks that the water supply in the metropolitan area had been contaminated by ash.

But Costa Rica’s Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) reported Friday that the volcano’s activity had not affected drinking water.

AyA Executive President Yamileth Astorga said the rumors were completely false.

“At the time there is no need to issue any public alert on water contamination,” she said.

Astorga said experts at AyA’s National Water Laboratory are conducting frequent monitoring at all water distribution plants. In case of any detected contamination, AyA would immediately  cut off the contaminated supply.

Still, Astorga advised the population to keep fresh water on hand as a precaution, in case any increase in the volcano’s activity compromises the water supply in coming days.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Tops Latin America in Attracting Foreign Millionaires

Costa Rica is a country that attracts millionaires. Projections indicate that by the end of 2025, a total of 350 foreign millionaires will have...

Panama Farmer Receives Land Title After 60-Year Wait at Age 109

A 109-year-old Panamanian farmer has received the land title for the property where he lives and works—six decades after first requesting it from the...

Panama Union Leader Saúl Méndez Goes into Exile in Bolivia

The leader of Panama’s main union, Saúl Méndez, accused of fraud and money laundering, left for exile in Bolivia this Saturday. He had taken...

Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano Park Reopening to Tourists With Safety Measures

The Poás Volcano National Park will reopen its doors to tourism starting July 30, after  scientific entities reported a decrease in volcanic activity. This was...

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Drowning in Costa Rica Ruled Accidental

The death of American actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has been confirmed as accidental drowning, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). Warner, 54, was...

Empty Stadiums and Inequality Mar Women’s Copa América

Nearly empty stadiums, players' criticism of the organization, and demands for equality in South American football have marked the 2025 Women's Copa América in...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica