By the
A.M. Costa Rica staff
The National Emergency
Commission and the park rangers at
the Poás Volcano
National Park* closed access
to the park for 24 hours due to
the continued eruptions registered
on Monday starting at dawn.
The Commission has stated that it
will decide today if the park will
remain closed or be allowed to
reopen.
"We have agreed to close for 24
hours due to the constant eruptive
activity. Due to the activity of
the Poas Volcano, it has been
recommended to the authorities of
the National Park to close the
site for 24 hours, as a preventive
measure and to observe and analyze
its evolution," said the
Commission in its press release.
Observers at the Volcanological
and Seismological Observatory of
Costa Rica (OVSICORY) report that
constant eruptive activity at the
Poás Volcano was recorded from
1:51 a. m. on Monday. The
surveillance cameras recorded
incandescence and a lot of gases
escaping from the volcano in
addition to several eruptions
during which the volcano tossed
rocks 50 to 100 meters into the
air.
The Ministry of Health reported
that communities like Grecia*, Sarchí* and
Naranjo*
reported the smell of sulfur and
volcanic smog in the reddish sky.
The smog, say experts, is the
product of a combination of
volcanic gases, acid rain, fine
ash and volcanic aerosols.
This smog or volcanic fog can
cause irritation in people with
respiratory problems. Symptoms
include cough, irritated or watery
eyes, headaches and in general, a
cold sensation.
Specialists of the Ministry of
Health and the Commission of
Emergencies asked that people
increase prevention measures
during the eruptions.
They also made this series of
recommendations regarding ash fall
for villages in the vicinity of
the volcano:
* To reduce exposure to ash, keep
all doors and windows in your home
or work center closed whenever
possible.
* If you are in an area where
there is ash fall, use respiratory
protection, a mouth cover or a
common surgical mask.
* If no mask is available, an
improvised cloth mask will filter
the larger ash particles.
Moistening the fabric with water
will improve its effectiveness.
* People with chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, asthma and other
respiratory diseases are advised
to stay inside buildings and avoid
unnecessary exposure to ash. The
same precautions are advised for
newborns and the elderly.
* Use glasses instead of contact
lenses to protect the eyes from
irritation.
* Use no treatments for any ash
related irritation without medical
advice as these can increase the
risk of emotional sequel and
produce side effects.
* Once the volcanic ash has
settled, carefully moisten the ash
with water and collect it. Do not
forget to wear a mask while
cleaning.
With
regard to those who had
purchased a ticket to Poás
Volcano National Park but could
not gain entry, Regional
Directorate of the Central
Conservation Area is offering a
refund of the entry fee or an
alternative entry date.
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Red
Sismologica Nacional
courtesy photo
The
surveillance cameras
recorded incandescence and
a lot of gases escaping
from the volcano in
addition to several
eruptions during which the
volcano tossed
rocks 50 to 100 meters
into the air.
In order to request a
refund or to reschedule
the visit, please send
an email to
poas.info@sinac.go.cr,
attach a copy of ID and
bank account number to
receive the refund.
As A.M. Costa Rica
reported on Jan. 16th,
due to the constant
activity of the volcanos
Rincon
de la Vieja* in
Guanacaste, Turrialba*
in Cartago and Poás*
in Alajuela, the
National Emergency
Commission urged that
the public respect the
access restrictions that
have been implemented
near the craters.
Park rangers have stated
that, during the
holidays, people put
their lives and the
lives of the rangers at
risk by entering the
sites near the volcanos
which were in constant
eruption. Visitors went
to the volcanos by
unapproved routes and
during hours outside the
daily schedule, the
rangers said. They
reminded the public that
people entering areas at
the volcanos illegally
will be fined.
Access to Turrialba
Volcano has also been
prohibited even though
it already has
anti-ballistic shelters.
Those shelters were
built to minimize the
danger because of the
constant activity of the
volcano. They provide
shelter for tourists and
for of the Emergency
Commission, the National
Seismological Network,
the Volcanological and
Seismological
Observatory and the
Electricity Institute.
These specialists
frequently climb to the
top to maintain the
volcanic surveillance
equipment and
communication towers
which are within the
“danger radius,” the
area where rocks thrown
from the volcano often
land.
Guillermo Alvarado, a
volcanologist of the
emergency commission,
said, "volcanic
eruptions cannot be
avoided, but the risk
can be minimized, that
is, trying to reduce
vulnerability. However,
the protection of these
shelters is partial
since before the fall of
large stones or a large
eruption, the structures
are not enough."
The Volcanological
Institute stated that
Turrialba Volcano began
its eruptive period on
Jan. 5, 2010, but
intensified it beginning
on Oct. 29, 2014, and
has continued it to the
present. Its 9
years of eruptive
activity and more than
four years of regular
activity keep it closed
to the public until
further notice.
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Should
the emergency commission
close access to the
other volcanoes as well?
We would like to know
your thoughts on this
story. Send your
comments to: news@amcostarica.com
*Link to
reach the place on map.
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