“In today Nevado del Ruiz volcano there is still a higher probability debris This is what ‘possible explosion in days or weeks’ means, in simpler terms than it was eight days ago. How long it will take? We don’t know, but that doesn’t mean it will necessarily result in an explosion,” he explains. John Makario Londoño, director of geological hazards at the Colombian Geological Service (SGC). The status of activity since Thursday night is where Nevado del Ruiz finds itself today, which has been updated to around 12,000 orange or (II) per day due to the high number of earthquakes it has presented in recent days.
(You may be interested in: Nevado del Ruiz Volcano: 57,000 people will be affected by a possible eruption).
According to the expert, the result of this may be an eruption, as the volcano shows signs of greater intensity and activity. However, uncertainty prevails today, and if its condition remains stable or declining, this geological structure will remain in the orange classification until signs again show that magma cannot rise to the surface. But as long as the possibility of an explosive process exists, the call of the SGC and National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) Preparing in the snow impact zones and making decisions to mitigate the effects of a major eventual explosion.
Considering this The level at which the volcano is now indicates that it may erupt more in days or weeks than it has produced in the past decade. A decade in which this geological structure was in the process of eruption, its activity reached orange and red levels in 2012, with two small eruptions producing directional effects limited to the surrounding areas of the volcano. so the wind The assets state that it is possible for this volcanic phenomenon to continue without posing a greater risk.
UNGRD director Javier Pava Sánchez assured him that the change in the alert led to the activation of contingency plans in the National Disaster Risk Management System. and procedures defined to take action in case of any pretense.
“We mobilized the departmental committees of Tolima and Caldas and the committees of 11 municipalities within its sphere of influence. “Each of these organizations has defined evacuation routes, shelters and contingency plans outlining key actions to consider.”
Yesterday afternoon, UNGRD director to the Unified Command Post (PMU) and Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ideam, Red Cross, Police and Military Forces. On the balance of this meeting, Pava announced that among the municipalities proposed for conscription for evacuation are Villamaría (Caldas), Casabianca, Herveo, Villahermosa and Murillo (Tolima).
This means that the community is provided with detailed information on how the situation is progressing and emergency response protocols. High threat sections include Tolima, Caldas and Risaralda and the area associated with the Gualí river in Cundinamarca. These have the same medium threat zones. Parts of Valle del Cauca and Quindío also fall into low threat areas.
In areas where the threat is greater, weekend visits will be made to assess how their preparations are progressing in the face of a possible eruption that requires the evacuation of the affected population, and to review the protocols they have to deal with. with emergencies.
(Also: warning on Nevado del Ruiz volcano: how far can the ash go?).
Given the warning of changes in the volcano’s activity, several regional entities began to take preparedness measures for a possible eruption. For example, in Caldas, one of the departments that will eventually be affected, Governor Luis Carlos Velásquez, Invías and aviation What will happen to the mobility in areas close to the geological structure? “I will contact the director of Invías to describe the actions in the Manizales-Bogotá road corridor, where one of its sections delimits the areas surrounding the volcano.”; pointed to the president.
Likewise, Velásquez stated that he will evaluate with the director of Aerocivil how the operation of La Nubia airport will be and whether the arrival of the planes will be cancelled. It also banned entry to any property in the Los Nevados Park area and urged calm, not to believe or spread fake chains that speak of scarcity of water or food.
Meanwhile, The Caldas District Health Department stated that the Emergency, Emergencies and Disasters Regulation Center (Crue) will be ready to respond to emergencies. “The orange hospital alert was announced at 9:00 am on Friday, March 31, until new guidelines are received from the Ministry of Mines and Energy,” said Jorge Rubio, director of the organization. This means deploying all hospitals and medical staff to deal with any situation.
(Also: Nevado del Ruiz Volcano: What You Need to Know About Increased Activity.)
Another decision was to send students from educational institutions in the department to virtual classrooms. Department of Education Secretary Diana María Cardona García pointed out that this decision was made to protect these educational communities. “There will be homeschooling during Easter week. We contact the rectors responsible for these venues and advise them on the case.“, aforementioned.
On the other hand, Quindío charities were also alarmed. “Salento, Filandia and Quimbaya will be affected but only due to volcanic ash deposits In case the winds change their usual direction, it is necessary to use a mask to protect the respiratory tract should it occur,” said Monica Camacho, Director of Disaster Risk Management at Quindío.
In Tolima, the orange alert was sounded and the permanent Combined Command Post (PMU) led by the Ministry of the Interior was activated.
(Also, Nevado del Ruiz Volcano exhibits the highest seismic activity in the last 12 years).
Interview with UNGRD director Javier Pava Sánchez.
What does it mean to be at an orange level of volcanic activity?
What we have now is that there has been a lot of seismic activity in the areas near the volcano in recent days, which leads us to assume that we do indeed face the possibility of an eruption in the coming days or even weeks. This leads to immediate activation of all our contingency plans in the National Disaster Risk Management System. and defined procedures for taking action should a pretense occur.
What measures are taken in the regions?
What we are now mobilizing are the departmental committees of Tolima and Caldas and committees of 11 municipalities within its sphere of influence. Each of these municipalities has defined contingency plans that include actions to be taken as soon as an alarm situation is identified, which includes evacuating or taking action. We will do permanent monitoring with SGC and immediately we have a much broader operational situation, we will set up a PMU in the near field to start coordinating preventive activities.
(You can read this article: Nevado del Ruiz: which cities and regions will be affected by a possible eruption?).
Which population may be affected?
We estimate that approximately 22 municipalities may be affected, with at least 57,090 people living in the affected areas of Nevado del Ruiz volcano at risk. About 14,200 of these people are located in municipal capitals, while 42,170 will be dispersed into scattered rural areas.
Nevado del Ruiz volcano is one of 25 active and monitored volcanoes in Colombia. It is 5,321 m above the Cordillera Central, on the border between the Tolima and Caldas departments. Given its explosive nature, and after the Armero tragedy in 1985, which killed around 25,000 people and was the second deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, this volcano is a priority to watch. . It is currently monitored by approximately 60 stations that measure seismic activity, deformation in the terrain, temperature, gases and sounds, and other factors that allow its activity to be evaluated.
Source: Exame
