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Published
on Friday, September 4, 2026
By
the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
The National
Emergency Commission (CNE) has issued a
Green Alert for Poás Volcano National
Park in Alajuela
Province because of ongoing eruptive
activity at the volcano.
The alert is the
first level of Costa Rica's emergency
alert system. It is intended to keep
emergency response teams informed and
prepared for a possible increase in
volcanic activity.
The warning covers
the entire national park and allows
authorities and scientists to closely
monitor changes in the volcano,
including eruptions, gas emissions,
temperatures, seismic activity, ashfall,
acid rain and hazardous gases.
According to the
Volcanological and Seismological
Observatory of Costa Rica, known as
OVSICORI, Poás has been producing
persistent columns of gas, rock and ash.
Scientists have also continued to detect
sustained, low-frequency earthquakes.
The strongest
recent eruption occurred at 2:35 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 27. Because the eruption
occurred before dawn, scientists could
not determine the height of the column of gases released from the
crater.
No lava was emitted during either of the reported events. However, the ejections contained high-temperature magma, which propelled volcanic material as far as 2,000 feet from the crater.
When
hot magma comes into contact with
water, the heat generated in the
volcanic soil or at the surface can
cause the water to
rapidly evaporate.
This can produce a powerful explosion
involving steam, water and ash. A
Level 2 eruption alert has also been
issued for the volcano. On Costa
Rica's four-level scale, this level
indicates a
state of
moderate volcanic unrest and can
include small steam, or phreatic,
eruptions, as well as increased gas
emissions and seismic tremors. The
alert enables scientists to continue
monitoring for possible increases in
eruptive activity, gas emissions,
temperatures, earthquakes, ashfall,
acid rain and hazardous gases. Despite
the ongoing volcanic activity, Poás
Volcano National Park remains open to
visitors. Tickets
must be purchased online in advance
through the National System
of Conservation Areas website,
known
as
SINAC. The
park covers approximately 16,000
acres, and its summit reaches about
8,900 feet above sea level. Visitors
are typically allowed to walk to the
edge of the main crater, depending on
current conditions and safety
measures. The
main crater, which measures about 950
feet wide, remains highly active and
regularly produces geyser-like
eruptions and occasional lava
outbursts.
Beyond
its volcanic landscapes, Poás Volcano
National Park is home to a wide
variety of plant and animal species.
Birdwatchers may see clay-colored
robins, quetzals, hummingbirds,
tanagers, flycatchers and toucans. Mammals
found in the park include pumas,
coyotes, rabbits and marmots, among
other species. Poás
is not the only Costa Rican volcano
currently under increased
monitoring. Authorities recently
issued a Green Alert for
communities near Rincón de la
Vieja Volcano, located between
Alajuela and Guanacaste provinces,
because of ongoing eruptive
activity. OVSICORI,
a research institute at the National
University of Costa Rica, monitors
seismic and volcanic activity
throughout the country. CNE
coordinates emergency preparedness and
response efforts nationwide. SINAC
is the government agency responsible
for managing Costa Rica's national
parks and protected areas.
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