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Cotopaxi volcano update: Volcano remains calm (so far)

Mon, 17 Aug 2015, 11:22 | BY: T
No new explosions of significant size have occurred at the volcano during the past 48 hours. Seismic activity remains elevated and suggests that smaller ash emissions continue, however.
Whether this is only a pause before another, possibly more violent phase of the eruption or already an end of this episode is too early to say.
Ecuador's ministry of civil protection maintains yellow alert for the communities of Francisco, Rumipamba, San Ramón, Mancheno, José Guango Bajo, and San Agustín del Callo (Mulaló).

Previous news

Sun, 16 Aug 2015, 11:11

Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador): new eruption with powerful explosions

Eruption from Cotopaxi on 14 Aug (photo: Daniel Salazar / twitter)
The volcano started to erupt, for the first time after more than 70 years, on 14 Aug with a series of 6 very strong explosions. The volcano last erupted in 1940 and possibly 1942. A major hazard of glacier-clad Cotopaxi's eruptions are melt-water floods that can turn in to devastating lahars and threaten an area with approx. 300,000 inhabitants. ... Read all
Wed, 12 Aug 2015, 06:00

Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 12 August-18 August 2015 (New Activity / Unrest)

On 14 August IG reported an earthquake swarm at Cotopaxi that began at 1721 and ended at 1806; the largest event, detected at 1723, was a M 2.7. A series of phreatic explosions on 15 August started with two small ones detected at 0402 and 0407. According to the Washington VAAC, ash plumes rose to altitudes of 12.2-13.7 km (40,000-45,000 ft) a.s.l.; lower parts of the plume drifted E and higher parts drifted SE. ... Read all
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Cotopaxi volcano
stratovolcano 5911 m / 19,393 ft
Ecuador, -0.68°S / -78.44°W
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5) Cotopaxi volcano eruptions:
2015-16, 1942(?), 1940, 1939(?), 1931(?), 1928-30(?), 1905-08, 1903, 1895, 1886, 1885, 1883?, 1883, 1882, 1880, 1879, 1878, 1877, 1870-76, 1870, 1869, 1868, 1867, 1866, 1863, 1860-62, 1859, 1858, 1857, 1856, 1856, 1855, 1854, 1853, 1852, 1851, 1850, 1845, 1844, 1803, 1768, 1766, 1750, 1747-49, 1746, 1744, 1743, 1743, 1742, 1742, 1740-41, 1738, 1698, 1534, 1533, 1532, 1400, 1260, 1130, 950, 770, 760, 740, 550, 370, 180, 140, 110, 70, 80 BC, 230 BC, 1510 BC, 2220 BC, 2640 BC
Typical eruption style
explosive