The Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) has raised the alert level for the Purace volcano to orange following an increase in seismic activity [1].
The escalation signals a higher probability of an eruption, which could impact several municipalities in the Cauca department. Local authorities are monitoring the situation as the volcano shows signs of internal instability.
According to reports, the alert level was officially elevated to orange on Aug. 1, 2024 [1]. This change follows a pattern of increased emissions and seismic events that suggest magma movement or pressure changes within the volcanic structure.
A specific spike in seismic activity was recorded at 16:20 on a Saturday [4]. This event involved the fracturing of rock within the volcano's zone of influence, a process that often precedes more significant volcanic events.
"Esta actividad se localizó a 11 kilómetros en dirección nororiente del cráter del...", a spokesperson for the Servicio Geológico Colombiano said [4]. The epicenter of this specific seismic event was located 11 kilometers to the northeast of the crater [4].
The SGC continues to track these movements to determine if the rock fracturing is a precursor to a larger eruption. The orange alert level indicates that the volcano is in an unstable state and that an eruption is possible, though not certain.
Emergency management teams are reviewing the risks to nearby populations. The potential for ash fall, and pyroclastic flows remains the primary concern for the municipalities located in the path of the volcano's influence.
“The alert level was officially elevated to orange on Aug. 1, 2024.”
The shift to an orange alert represents a significant escalation in risk management for the Cauca region. While not a guarantee of an immediate eruption, the combination of rock fracturing and increased seismicity indicates that the volcanic system is actively adjusting to internal pressure. This necessitates a state of readiness for local governments to execute evacuation plans if the activity reaches the red alert threshold.
