Colombia raises Puracé volcano to orange alert amid heightened activity

The Puracé volcano in southwestern Colombia's Cauca department has been placed on orange alert, signaling the second-highest level of volcanic risk. This decision by the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) follows the recording of the most significant activity since monitoring of the volcano commenced in 1993. Data revealed gas and ash columns reaching up to 3,400 meters above the summit, estimated temperatures around 140°C, and sulfur dioxide emissions peaking at 4,200 tons per day. This heightened activity did not occur suddenly; since July 20, the Popayán Volcanological and Seismological Observatory had noted a consistent rise in seismic energy below the crater and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations in the soil. Nathalia Contreras, director of Geo-hazards at the SGC, stated that the orange alert signifies a greater possibility of a larger eruption than observed recently, emphasizing the need for preparedness. However, she clarified that this alert does not guarantee an imminent eruption but mandates active preparation by officials and local populations. The SGC also cautioned that periods of apparent calm might occur during this alert phase without indicating a return to stable conditions. According to a 2014 SGC hazard map, the municipalities of Puracé, Popayán, and Sotará are most vulnerable to a significant eruption. These areas are home to indigenous and peasant communities, including the Puracé, Kokonuko, and Paletará Indigenous Reserves, and settlements of the Nasa and Misak peoples. Potential threats include pyroclastic flows and lahars, or mudflows, directed towards Paletará and Popayán. The SGC advises these communities to rely solely on official information from the SGC, local mayors, and the Governorate of Cauca, and to verify information circulating on social media.