Experts Fear Eruption Of
Turrialba
Due to intense activity
and the presence of
gases and smoke that the
Volcán Turrialba
continues emanate, the
Comisión Nacional de
Emergencias (CNE) has
decided to maintain the
national park closed.
The closure was
confirmed yesterday by
CNE official, Reynaldo
Carballo.
Last Friday the CNE has
closed visitor access to
the park as the volcano
has become very active
during the past several
weeks. In the past
couple of days the
volcano has produced
some 2.000 tremors. The
tremors, according to
vucanologist Eliécer
Duarte are too weak -
less than 2 on the
Richter scale - to be
felt by people, but
registering on the CNE
equipment.
With respect to the
gases and smoke, Duarte
says that is a good
sign, meaning the
volcano is releasing
energy instead of
bottling it up which
could convert into an
eruption.
The experts believe that
the volcano could erupt,
spewing out gases and
sediment, though
unlikely it will spew
out lava.
The Turrialba is an
active volcano. However,
last April the volcano
began to show signs of
greater activity.
The Turrialba last
erupted in 1864 and
1866.
Since 1996, the activity
at the volcano has been
low. However, this year
the volcano has shown
increased activity,
especially in seismic
activity, spewing out
columns of gas and
vapour.
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