Colombia lowers the alarm level of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano

The Nevado del Ruiz volcano, in central Colombia, reduced its seismic activity and the authorities lowered Amarillo from Naranja alert levelbecause the probability of an eruption in the coming days or weeks has decreased, the Geological Survey reported Tuesday.

The volcano is located on the border of the departments of Caldas and Tolima, in the Central Cordillera of the Colombian Andes, about 180 kilometers west of Bogotá.

“Given that the behavior of the volcano has returned to a level of lesser instability and that the probability of an eruption of considerable magnitude in terms of days or weeks has decreased, the SGC determines that the Nevado del Ruiz volcano changes its level of activity Orange (II) to Yellow (III),” said a statement from the Colombian Geological Service (SGC).

The volcano monitoring and surveillance agency had raised the alarm level on March 30.

With a height of 5,300 meters, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted on November 13, 1985, spewing large amounts of lava and gases at high temperatures that melted the glaciers and snow, causing a huge avalanche that buried the town of Armero, in the department of Tolima.

The avalanche caused the death of some 25,000 people, while another 5,000 were injured, in the worst natural tragedy in the history of Colombia and in the fourth deadliest volcanic eruption of humanity, according to the Smithsonian Institution of the United States.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.