Residents in the city of Popayán and surrounding areas are alarmed after Colombia's Puracé Volcano erupted violently for the first time since 1977, prompting authorities to raise the warning level to "orange".
Video footage from the Colombian Geological Service showed hot lava, volcanic ash, and thick smoke continuously spewing from the volcano's crater. Sources reported that Popayán, located about 28 kilometers away, was affected by volcanic ash drifting into the city on Saturday.
Jaime Reigosa, coordinator of the Popayán Volcano and Seismological Observatory, said that in the days prior, officials detected multiple ash emissions per day until a hybrid earthquake occurred—caused by both rock fracturing and fluid movement within the volcano—indicating that the eruption process was rapidly developing.
Reigosa noted that the latest ash emissions made it clear that the yellow alert level was no longer sufficient, as the eruption was intensifying. Authorities are now rushing to install equipment to monitor volcanic ash and closely check heat near the crater rim, while residents have been advised to prepare dust protection gear and continuously follow official warnings.
Puracé is a volcano with a long eruption history but had no major eruptions since 1977, the last officially recorded ash emission before this recent event. The eruption has caused widespread concern because many communities live around the volcano, and volcanic ash can impact respiratory health and air quality. Local agencies warn residents to prepare for potentially worsening conditions if tremors or ash emissions increase in the coming days.
Source: AP
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