No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeUPDATE: Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano erupts incandescent material

UPDATE: Costa Rica’s Turrialba Volcano erupts incandescent material

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=809832475720679&set=vb.106757629361504&type=2&theater

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. Sat., March 14

Volcanologists believe the incandescent material seen last night spewing from Turrialba Volanco was not lava but rather chunks of rock heated to extremely high temperatures.

María Martínez Cruz, volcanologist with the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI), said Saturday that the majority of rock ejected from the volcano on Friday fell back into the crater, but some has fallen on the volcano’s flanks.

She said eruptions Friday morning produced material as big as 1 meter in diameter.

Ash filled the air downwind of the volcano, particularly around Heredia, on Saturday morning.

Volcanic ash can aggravate respiratory problems and, occasionally, cause skin irritation. OVSICORI circulated a guide Saturday to the health hazards of volcanic ash. The guide, published by the U.S. Geological Survey and other institutions, is available in English here.

Original story continues here:

Nighttime images from a live video camera operated by the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) at the Turrialba Volcano are showing an incandescent glow, meaning lava or other incandescent material is present in the volcano’s eruptions.

The volcano, located about 70 kilometers northeast of San José, has been exploding nearly nonstop since Thursday, covering vast areas of Costa Rica’s Central Valley in volcanic ash. Scientists have been working to determine the exact nature of the eruptions, and whether or not lava is present.

The above image was taken just before 10 p.m. on Friday night. According to OVSICORI, the latest eruption began at 8:55 p.m. Volcanologists are monitoring the situation and expected to weigh in soon. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, watch the volcano here.

 

Trending Now

Voter Turnout Rises in Costa Rica as Abstention Drops

Sunday’s election day brings good news for all of Costa Rica: voter abstention decreased. This means that more people decided to participate in these...

Costa Rica Presidential Election Could End in First Round

Conservative candidate Laura Fernández has increased her chances of winning Costa Rica’s presidency in the first round next Sunday, according to a poll released...

Novak Djokovic Advances to Australian Open Semifinals After Musetti Retires

Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Australian Open on January 27, 2026, when Lorenzo Musetti retired from their quarterfinal match. The Serbian trailed...

Costa Ricans Keep Election Ballots at Home in Rare Trust Based Voting System

In her living room, Priscilla Herrera safeguards, alongside Vaquita, her mixed-breed dog, hundreds of ballots for Sunday’s elections in Costa Rica, where citizens are...

Costa Rica Mentioned Hundreds of Times in Epstein Files

The U.S. Department of Justice's declassification of the Epstein files has uncovered repeated references to Costa Rica, with our country cited 324 times across...

Costa Rica Stays Central America’s Priciest Vacation Destination

Costa Rica holds its position as the most expensive destination in Central America for travelers, with average daily costs per person reaching $138. This...
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica