Colombia: in the midst of the earthquake disaster, the Puracé Volcano began to emit ash and gases

According to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC), the Puracé, which is part of the Los Coconucos volcanic chain, continues with an increase in seismic energy and temperature of ash emissions and gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

This situation led the Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) to order the temporary closure of the Guillermo León Valencia airport, from Popayán, capital of Cauca, due to the risk that ash and gases pose to air navigation.

“We inform that air operations at the Popayán Airport are temporarily suspended due to the presence of ash from the Puracé volcano reported by the Colombian Geological Service,” Aerocivil said in a statement.

The closure of the Popayán airportand adds to that of seven other air terminals that suffered damage to their structure due to the earthquake this Monday in Colombia: Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

The Geological Service, however, ruled out that the emission of ash from the Puracé volcano has a direct relationship with the earthquake, whose epicenter was in the department of Chocó, in the Pacific region, as it explained that they are independent natural phenomena.

Puracé is located 27 kilometers from Popayán and is one of the 15 cones that make up the Coconucos volcanic chain. Its last eruption of considerable magnitude occurred in March 1977, although since 2021 it has been showing gradual changes in its activity.