By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Costa Rican Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, known as OVSICORI, reported on Sunday at 8:59 p.m., a continuous steam eruption at Poás volcano, located in the volcanic mountain range in Alajuela*.

According to specialists, this eruption is not toxic gas. The steam column rose to 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) above the height of the crater and 3,708 meters (12,165 feet) above sea level.

Due to the steam eruption, the National Emergency Commission ordered the closure of the entrance to the volcano. Tourists were prohibited from entering the park from Monday until further notice.

"Due to the activity of the Poás Volcano tonight, the Commission recommended to the authorities closing the Park to analyze the evolution of the activity by the volcanologists of the Technical Advisory Committee," said the Commission in its statement.

On September 19th, park rangers reported an increase in the intensity of acid rain.

According to volcanologists, the gases emanating from the volcano, mainly sulfuric acid, when combined with rain or cloudiness, produces rain that may cause skin irritation.

There has been no further increase in steam erupting from the volcano. It is expected that park rangers and volcanologists will conduct an inspection Tuesday morning, and analyze the possibility of reopening the entrance to the park. When conditions remain normal and visitors are not put at risk they will re-open the park.

Regarding the most recent eruptions of the Poás volcano, as A.M. Costa Rica reported, another eruption was recorded at 6 a.m. on June 18th, which lasted approximately six minutes. However, the height reached by the gas column could not be calculated due to cloudy conditions at the site.

In their report, specialists registered an increase in seismic activity. "In the past week, several volcano-tectonic earthquakes of low amplitude and magnitude less than 2.0 have been registered. This is happening under the crater suggesting fracturing of rock under the Poás crater,” said the specialists.

People in the area reported to the National Emergency Commission that several loud noises were heard and then an erupting column ascending from the crater of Poás was seen, followed by ashfall in the towns of Cajón, San Luis, Los Ángeles, San Miguel, San Isidro, San Roque," said the Commission in its report.

In February, a series of eruptions were reported. And after 24 hours of observation, there was a decrease in seismicity and volcanic gases, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.

Volcano access was reopened in September 2018 after being closed for 16 months.

According to the Tourism Institute, the country has more than 200 volcanoes formations identified, dating back more than 65 million years. More than 100 of which show signs of active volcanic activity.


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Have you visited any of the volcanoes in the country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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