Orange alert for probable eruption in “days or weeks” of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia

( Spanish) — The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) and the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management reported that the risk level of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, located in the central mountain range of Colombia, was raised to orange, because its activity suggests an eruption. likely within “days or weeks,” according to a joint statement.

“In this case, the orange level is equivalent to the fact that, given the changes registered in the volcano’s activity, there is a probability that in days or weeks the Nevado del Ruiz volcano will erupt more than it has in the last decade” , was explained in the press release issued this Thursday.

It was added that “this volcano has been in an eruptive process for approximately 10 years, but all the eruptive events that have occurred in this period have been minor and, in most cases, their affectation has been limited to the areas around the volcano. volcano depending on the direction of the wind. Therefore, it is possible that this volcanic phenomenon will continue to occur without implying a greater risk.”

Located on the border between the departments of Caldas and Tolima, Nevado del Ruiz became infamous in the world on November 13, 1985, when it erupted and affected the town of Armero. On that occasion, the volcano released rivers of volcanic material and mud that devastated everything in its path. The Government of Colombia recorded at that time that the tragedy left nearly 25,000 dead.

The volcano has registered a “significant increase” in seismic activity and, for example, more than 9,600 earthquakes were registered this Thursday alone, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

The bulletin recommends that the community “remain calm” and remain attentive to official information from authorities.

For its part, the Caldas Environment Secretariat reported this Friday on Facebook that, based on the increased alert, it decided to close the Los Nevados National Natural Park and begin the evacuation of the “areas surrounding the volcano, particularly the areas riverbanks or ravines”. Until this Friday there was no data on the total number of people evacuated.

-Wilson Barco and Federico Jofre collaborated on this report