No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica’s Rincón de la Vieja Volcano explodes vapor and ash

Costa Rica’s Rincón de la Vieja Volcano explodes vapor and ash

Experts from the National University’s Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) on Thursday reported that Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, located in Guanacaste province, has seen increased vapor activity and explosions.

Strong explosions were recorded on Wednesday at 1:54 p.m. On Thursday at about noon, a tall column of vapor and ash was visible on top of the volcano’s crater.

Local residents told OVSICORI that ash had fallen on the roofs of their homes in an area six kilometers around the volcano, mainly in communities north of the crater in Upala and Buenos Aires.

Volcanologist Javier Pacheco on Thursday said activity at the volcano had been low in the past 15 years, but monitoring equipment recorded an increase in deposits of volcanic material in the crater.

Ash, mud and vapor explosions intensified last year, but inspections in recent months found that material mostly fell in the area surrounding the crater. Some of this material also fell on rivers located north of the volcano, mostly carried by rain during the past rainy season, Pacheco said.

OVSICORI experts recommend that visitors avoid getting too close to the volcano’s crater. The region is a popular destination for tourists attracted by the volcano as well as several lodging options including hot springs resorts.

Costa Rica’s volcanoes in recent years have seen a noticeable increase in eruptive activity. Among them are the Turrialba and Irazú volcanoes in Cartago, and Poás and Arenal volcanoes in Alajuela.

Popular Articles

Rare ‘Blood Moon’ Total Lunar Eclipse Stuns Stargazers Across the Globe

Stargazers across a swathe of the world marvelled at a dramatic red "Blood Moon" during a rare total lunar eclipse in the early hours...

Panama Allows First Quantum to Export Copper Despite Court Shutdown

The President of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, said on Thursday that he authorized a Canadian-owned mine, which was shut down by the courts in...

Trial Date Set for Murder of Dutch Journalists During El Salvador War

The final phase of the trial against a former Defense Minister of El Salvador and two colonels for their alleged responsibility in the murder...
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

Latest Articles