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Friday, June 5, 2020in Guanacaste volcano By the A.M. Costa Rica staff On Thursday, the Green Alert was issued due to the increase in eruptions at the Rincón de la Vieja Volcano, located in Guanacaste Province, announced the National Emergency Commission. A Green Alert is given when it is anticipated that a natural phenomenon endangers a specific area in the country. The authorities activated the community's emergency commissions to take action due to the danger related to the alert. Residents must be informed about official news related to the development of the volcano that could be potentially dangerous. According to experts, the alert covers the communities near the base of the volcano, these are: Dos Ríos and Aguas Claras, Mayorga, Cañas Dulces and Curubandé. All located in Liberia Canton. "The volcano has been generating continuous eruptions in recent days. Practically this week and the week before, there have been eruptions every day," said Lidier Esquivel, representative of the Commission. The alert is generated because in the most recent eruptions "ash fall has been reported in some sectors near the crater," added Esquivel. Due to the increased risk of a larger eruption, specialists recommend that people who live in communities near the volcano take the following precautionary measures: • Monitor the conditions of the rivers in the northern zone of the volcano. • Increase security measures for people with respiratory problems due to the possible ash fall. • Clean the areas of the animal's feed and water containers. • Stay informed only with official means such as the Emergency Commission or the local emergency committees. • To the emergency staff on local committees review the inventory of available resources in the event of an eventual emergency. According to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, the most recent eruption of the volcano was recorded on Thursday. According to the experts' report, at 10:33 am, an eruption was recorded in the volcano with a duration of one minute. However, due to the cloudiness at the top of the volcano, the height reached by the gas column could not be recorded. "In the last 24 hours, small eruptions were observed with infrasound recording equipment, it was every ten minutes and up to every 2 hours," said the specialists in its report. "It was not observed that these eruptions produced significant lahar." According to the records of the Observatory, the level of volcanic activity this year induced by 20 eruptions have been registered, of which 17 are at level 3 of 5 on the specialists' scale. Specialists recorded eruptions at 5 levels of intensity. Level three is classified as eruptions with ash emanation, tremor registration and even in some cases deformation of the internal walls of the crater. The most recent high columns of gases were recorded in May. On May 24, an eruption was recorded at 6:08 a.m. with a column of gases that rises 1,000 meters above the height of the crater and 2,916 meters above sea level with a duration of one minute. On May 22 at 4:24 p.m. one eruption was registered with a duration of one minute with a column of gases that rises also 1,000 meters above the height of the crater. That day the volcanologist Geoffroy Avard, Cyrill Muller and Alejandro Rodríguez made an overflight above the crater of the volcano to monitor the level of degassing in the active crater. The video was published on the Facebook page of the Observatory. On May 21, another eruption was recorded at 5:37 a.m. Similar to the previous ones, the eruption created a column of gases that rose 1,000 meters above the crater lasting at least one minute. Costa Rica has active volcanoes, which is why it is important to be alert, have an emergency plan, know evacuation routes and safe places in case of a volcanic eruption, recommended the specialists of the Emergency Commission. On January, more Rincón de La Vieja Volcano eruptions were registered making the National Emergency Commission declare a Green Alert for the districts of Aguas Claras and Dos Ríos located in Guanacaste. Access to the volcano remains closed due to continuous eruptions. Authorities call on people in the communities surrounding the volcano to report to 911 for any unusual situation with the volcano. Also, residents were advised to follow the recommendations of the Emergency Commission of the local communities. A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this alert with their contacts. -------------------------- Should the authorities develop evacuation drills in the communities nearest to the volcano? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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