The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory reported continued eruptions at Turrialba Volcano in Cartago*. The last two were registered on Friday and Monday.

Volcanologists report that Friday's eruption was recorded at 1:30 p.m. and included a column of ash and gas "that rose to 1,000 meters above the height of the crater and at 4,340 meters above sea level." The ash expanded towards the western area of the volcano due to the direction of the winds.

On Monday at 1:10 p.m., another eruption was reported "with a column that rose 500 meters above the height of the crater and 3,840 meters above sea level. The eruption lasted 3 minutes,” said specialists.
 
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 were 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 in the event of the fall of large stones or a large eruption, the structures are not enough."



The Volcanological Institute said that Turrialba Volcano* began its eruptive period on Jan. 5, 2010, but intensified it beginning in Oct. 29, 2014, and has continued it to the present.  Its nine years of eruptive activity and more than four years of regular activity keep the access to the volcano closed until further notice.


Volcanologist report no eruptions at Poás Volcano in Alajuela* or Rincon de la Vieja in Guanacaste* over the weekend.
 
As A.M. Costa Rica reported last week, a series of eruptions was reported at Poás Volcano in Alajuela*.

On Feb 12th, after 24 hours of observation, during which there was a decrease in seismicity and in volcanic gases (CO2, SO2), the representatives of the National Commission of Emergencies recommended limited access to Poás Volcano in Alajuela* as a precautionary measure.