|
Volcán
Poás Keeps on Roaring
Three more eruptions were
recorded on Sunday as the Volcán
Poás came to life last Friday
after 12 years of being dormant
and forced the closure of the
national park as scientists
study the activity.
The volcano is located 35
kilometres North East of
downtown Alajuela. It is one of
the mountain peaks that enclose
the Central Valley and a site
for thousands of visitors each
year. From downtown San José,
the ride to the top is only 45
minutes.
Lidier Esquivel, a chief at the
Comisión Nacional de Emergencias
(CNE), said yesterday's
eruptions occurred at 12 noon,
at 4:38pm and 5pm. The three
eruptions were in addition to
the eruptions on Saturday and
Friday.
The total number of eruptions is
now at 11. The strongest of
eruptions was recorded Friday
night when the expulsion reached
200 metres (650 feet) in
altitude from a crater that is
about 300 metres (1.000 feet) in
depth.
Juan Dobles, head of the Parque
Nacional Volcán Poás, said that
the concern of experts is the
water level of the crater
lagoon. Dobles confirmed that if
the water level recedes, a mud
mixture will form and the
eruptions will be more violent,
and material spewed will be more
intense. Dobles said the water
reduced the force the eruptions.
In addition to the eruptions,
seismic activity continues.
According to Observatorio
Vulcanológico y Sismológico de
Costa Rica (Ovsicori), small
"harmonic tremours" have been
recorded. The tremours coincide
with the movement of fluid
within the volcano.
Authorities assure that, for the
moment, the nearby communities
are not at risk and no
evacuation has been called. The
volcanic activity is
concentrated within the park and
no alert has been made.
The only measure being taken at
this time is the closure of the
park for an indefinite period,
according to CNE's Esquivel.
|
|
