CNE Issues Warning About Lahars Due to Ash Accumulation from Poás Volcano
High levels of volcanic activity prompt caution along the Desagüe River as ash threatens to cause dangerous flows.
Lidier Esquivel, head of the Risk Investigation and Analysis Unit of the National Emergency Commission (CNE), issued a warning concerning potential lahars and water floods in the Desagüe River, located in Alajuela, as a result of ash accumulation in the crater of Poás Volcano.
The CNE highlighted the significant concern regarding the build-up of ash on the western part of the crater, which may manifest in the upcoming hours or days along the river.
The Desagüe River, which originates from the slopes of the volcano, spans over 15 kilometers and is known for its turquoise pools and waterfalls, popular tourist attractions especially during the summer season.
Esquivel stressed that it is inadvisable to be near or in the river at this time, given the volcanic activity’s implications.
This statement followed a visit by CNE officials to the Poás crater, conducted alongside personnel from the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), park rangers, and specialists from the National University’s School of Chemistry.
The visit aimed to assess the impact of ongoing eruptions on the national park.
Esquivel confirmed that the volcanic activity remains very high and explosive, necessitating an indefinite extension of the park’s closure.
Additionally, Esquivel warned about the dangers of illegal entry into the park during this period of volcanic unrest, which poses significant risks to individuals attempting to approach the area.
The Desagüe River has previously been affected by volcanic activity.
In April 2017, the river turned gray due to a large quantity of ash carried from the Poás, which experienced eruptions reaching several kilometers above the crater during that time.
The national park also remained closed in April 2017 due to similar circumstances.
On Good Friday of 2017, a major eruption caused ash to reach altitudes of over four kilometers, completely destroying the volcanic dome that had existed for more than 60 years.
The intense activity also led to the drying up of the crater lake in June 2017; however, it refilled by 2019 as volcanic activity subsided.
Marteen de Moor, a volcanologist from the observatory, indicated that the incandescent material ejected could consist of magma or older rocks expelled at high temperatures from the volcano's interior.
Recent activity on the night of Friday and the morning of Saturday registered intense volcanic activity, particularly between 8 PM and midnight, followed by a relative calm during the early hours of Saturday.
Nonetheless, at 10:10 AM, the volcano erupted again, emitting ash that rose approximately 500 meters above the crater, with the plume dispersing towards the southwest.
The CNE, SINAC, park rangers, and university specialists continue to monitor and evaluate the effects of the persistent eruptions on the national park and surrounding areas.
The CNE highlighted the significant concern regarding the build-up of ash on the western part of the crater, which may manifest in the upcoming hours or days along the river.
The Desagüe River, which originates from the slopes of the volcano, spans over 15 kilometers and is known for its turquoise pools and waterfalls, popular tourist attractions especially during the summer season.
Esquivel stressed that it is inadvisable to be near or in the river at this time, given the volcanic activity’s implications.
This statement followed a visit by CNE officials to the Poás crater, conducted alongside personnel from the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), park rangers, and specialists from the National University’s School of Chemistry.
The visit aimed to assess the impact of ongoing eruptions on the national park.
Esquivel confirmed that the volcanic activity remains very high and explosive, necessitating an indefinite extension of the park’s closure.
Additionally, Esquivel warned about the dangers of illegal entry into the park during this period of volcanic unrest, which poses significant risks to individuals attempting to approach the area.
The Desagüe River has previously been affected by volcanic activity.
In April 2017, the river turned gray due to a large quantity of ash carried from the Poás, which experienced eruptions reaching several kilometers above the crater during that time.
The national park also remained closed in April 2017 due to similar circumstances.
On Good Friday of 2017, a major eruption caused ash to reach altitudes of over four kilometers, completely destroying the volcanic dome that had existed for more than 60 years.
The intense activity also led to the drying up of the crater lake in June 2017; however, it refilled by 2019 as volcanic activity subsided.
Marteen de Moor, a volcanologist from the observatory, indicated that the incandescent material ejected could consist of magma or older rocks expelled at high temperatures from the volcano's interior.
Recent activity on the night of Friday and the morning of Saturday registered intense volcanic activity, particularly between 8 PM and midnight, followed by a relative calm during the early hours of Saturday.
Nonetheless, at 10:10 AM, the volcano erupted again, emitting ash that rose approximately 500 meters above the crater, with the plume dispersing towards the southwest.
The CNE, SINAC, park rangers, and university specialists continue to monitor and evaluate the effects of the persistent eruptions on the national park and surrounding areas.
