Yellow alert in Ecuador for the Cotopaxi volcano

MADRID, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ecuadorian National Risk Management Service (SNGRE) has declared a yellow alert status due to the activity of tremors, ash and steam columns detected in the Cotopaxi volcano.

The alert has been declared as a preventive measure, "with the purpose of maintaining and strengthening the monitoring and the necessary training, prevention, preparation and response activities," according to a report by the Geophysical Institute (IG) of the National Polytechnic School, cited by the newspaper 'The Telegraph'.

The manual of the Emergency Operations Committee (COE) explains that the yellow alert level implies that all contingency plans at the cantonal, provincial and national levels are updated in anticipation of a possible increase in volcanic activity.

In addition, the Situation Rooms and the technical-scientific entities will continue and reinforce the monitoring of the possible threat. In this context, the SNGRE and the territorial body will review and update the scenarios based on each jurisdiction.

According to the IG report, the tremor identified on Saturday, October 21, is the largest report of activity after the eruptive process of 2015.

During these last days, the volcano has been between cloudy and partially clear. However, on Saturday an emission of gas and water vapor was observed 500 meters above the level of the crater in a western direction. The steam plume would have its origin in the filtration of water from the recent precipitations to the hydrothermal system of the volcano.

In addition, a slight fall of ash has been detected in the José Rivas refuge and later an ash column with a height of 2,353 meters above the level of the crater has been observed.