By the
A.M. Costa Rica staff
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 that Poás Volcano
National Park* reopen to
visitors at 7:00 a.m.
However, due to changes wind
direction at 11 a.m. specialists
again closed to access the
volcano as a precautionary
measure.
Guillermo Alvarado, a
volcanologist of the emergency
commission, said that the wind
direction changed and “moved
towards the sector of the
viewpoint, so that in all the
installations ash and gas
precipitations are
present."
Other specialists of the
Volcanology Technical Advisory
Committee said that monitoring
of the volcano’s activity will
continue and that they will
announce today if access to the
park will be reopened.
The park was closed for 16
months and only reopened in Sept
2018.
As was reported yesterday in
A.M. Costa Rica, the National
Emergency Commission and the
park rangers at the Poás Volcano
National Park*
closed access to the park due to
the continued eruptions that
were first registered at dawn on
Monday, Feb 11.
"We have agreed to close for
24 hours due to the constant
eruptive activity,” said the
Commission in its press release
on Monday. The specialists will
continue to monitor and observe
the volcano to determine when
the park can safely reopen
Observers at the Volcanological
and Seismological Observatory of
Costa Rica reported 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 a 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 an emotional sequel and
produce side effects.
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Volcanological
Observatory courtesy photo
National Park
reopen to visitors at
7:00 a.m. but due to
changes wind direction
at 11 a.m. specialists
again closed to access
the volcano as a
precautionary measure.
* 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 alternative
entry date.
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.
Due to the
constant activity of
the volcanos Rincon
de la Vieja*
in Guanacaste,
Turrialba* in
Cartago and Poás,
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
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 on 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 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 source.
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