The Colombian Geological Survey (SGC) warned of an increase in the seismic activity of the Puracé volcano, located in the department of Cauca (southwest), which has been on orange alert since last August 1 due to the risk of an eruption.

The governmental body indicated that since 4:20 PM on Saturday (9:20 PM GMT) there has been an increase in seismic activity related to rock fracturing in the area of influence of the Puracé volcano.

“This activity was located 11 kilometers northeast of the Puracé volcano crater, at a depth of nine kilometers. Approximately 50 seismic events occurred, some of which had magnitudes between 2.8 and 4.1,” said the coordinator of the Popayán Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (capital of Cauca), Cristian Santacoloma.

The expert explained that “this type of activity can occur within the volcanic influence zone” and recalled that “the other volcanic monitoring parameters remain within the levels that have been reported in recent days.”

“For these reasons, the Puracé volcano and the Los Coconucos volcanic chain remain on orange alert. We invite the community to refrain from accessing the upper part of the volcano,” added Santacoloma.

Puracé is located 27 kilometers from Popayán and is one of the 15 cones that make up the Los Coconucos volcanic chain.

Its last considerable eruption occurred in March 1977, although since 2021 it has been undergoing gradual changes in its activity.

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