What Would Happen if Puracé Volcano Erupted? Colombia’s Geological Service Explains the Activity

Recent earthquakes near Colombia’s Puracé Volcano have worried residents, but the country’s Geological Service says its monitoring data do not currently connect the activity to the volcano or point to an eruption.

Cristian Santacoloma, coordinator of the Popayán volcanological and seismological observatory, said the earthquakes reflected rock fracturing. The activity occurred about 11 kilometers northeast of Puracé, near the municipality of Totoró, at depths ranging from roughly 8 to 12 kilometers. Some of the stronger events were felt widely.

Community concern has grown as the volcano’s alert level moved from yellow to orange, alongside reports of continuing ashfall and high seismicity in the San Rafael area of Totoró. Santacoloma said the area is seismogenic, meaning it has a tendency to experience repeated earthquakes. Similar events occurred in 2012 and 2016, although the latest activity reached greater magnitudes.

“

Currently, the data we have from monitoring and the other techniques we use to track the volcano’s behavior do not show a relationship with these events.

“Currently, the data we have from monitoring and the other techniques we use to track the volcano’s behavior do not show a relationship with these events,” Santacoloma told Noticias Caracol.

The Geological Service said it is maintaining close watch over Puracé and the Coconucos volcanic chain, which includes 15 volcanoes. Its monitoring room collects seismic readings and other measurements from equipment installed in the field. These data help officials locate vibrations and assess changes inside volcanic structures, together with measurements of ground deformation. The Nevado del Huila and Sotará volcanoes are also monitored from the facility.

“

Rock fracturing; this area where the activity occurred is located 11 kilometers from the volcano in a northeasterly direction, near the municipality of Totoró.