1 of 2 Stock image shows the 2013 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. — Photo: John Vizcaino/ Portal Stock image shows the 2013 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. — Photo: John Vizcaino/ Portal
Colombian authorities this Friday (30th) raised the alert level of the deadly Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which is active again, and forecast a possible eruption in the coming days or weeks.
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called on the prefectures of the volcanic region, which lies between the provinces of Tolima and Caldas a neighboring region of Medellín to activate protocols.
“We are on Orange Alert due to change in seismology of Ruiz Volcano. The mayors must prepare the protocols for this state of alarm,” announced the country’s President Gustavo Petro in a message on Twitter on Friday.
Last week, the Colombian Geological Survey noted rock fractures at the site. As a result, experts noted an increase in seismic activity and raised the alert level to orange.
Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano meaning it is formed from lava flows and ash accumulated during eruptions.
2 of 2 Stock image shows the 2016 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. — Photo: AFP/Ingeominas Stock image shows the 2016 eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Colombia. — Photo: AFP/Ingeominas
Famous examples of catastrophic stratovolcano eruptions include Krakatoa in Indonesia, which exploded in 1883, and Mount Vesuvius in Italy, which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79.
Colombia’s worst natural disaster occurred in 1985 when Nevado del Ruiz eruptedthe melting of ice and snow, resulting in torrents of water and boulders, killed over 25,000 people.
It was the fourth highest death toll from an eruption ever recorded in the world, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program.