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Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica): new vent opens on the SE flank as result of overpressure

Fri, 13 Jan 2012, 10:33 |
Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) opened a new vent on 12 January 2012 as the result of an overpressure on the southeast flank of the West Crater.

This decompression event released ash that was carried by the wind at least up to Tres Rios (27km SW from the vent). As a consequence the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias and the Turrialba Volcano National Park's administration declared a yellow alert and closed the access, which is still the case on January 17th.

(Message from OVSICORI-UNA)

A report with more details is available in English and Spanish on the webpage of the OVSICORI-UNA (Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica):
English version:
http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/pdf/2012/Turrialba_eruption-report_2012-01_eng.pdf
Spanish version:
http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/pdf/2012/Turrialba_eruption-report_2012-01.pdf

A video illustrating the activity on January 13th, 2012 is also available:
http://www.ovsicori.una.ac.cr/videos/Turrialba-2012-01-13.mp4

Previous news

Wed, 11 Jan 2012, 06:00

Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 11 January-17 January 2012 (New Activity / Unrest)

OVSICORI-UNA reported that on 11 January local people around Turrialba heard several instances of rumbling. On 12 January an eruption occurred from a fissure on the SE flank of the main crater, in an area called La Quemada. An ash plume rose 500 m above the crater and drifted NNW, rising to an altitude of 4 km (13,000 ft) a.s.l. ... Read all
Wed, 15 Jun 2011, 06:00

Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 15 June-21 June 2011 (New Activity / Unrest)

OVSICORI-UNA reported that on 9 June scientists conducting fieldwork at Turrialba observed a new crater lake in the W crater, which opened in January 2010 and was the center of the most recent activity. Since February, rock landslides along with abundant mud and clay had accumulated in the bottom of the crater, blocking the vent. Meteoric water from rains starting in May had formed a light-green-colored lake that was 70 by 70 m and about 1 m deep. ... Read all
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Turrialba volcano
Stratovolcano 3340 m (10,958 ft)
Costa Rica, 10.03°N / -83.77°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5) Turrialba volcano eruptions:
1723(?), 1847(?), 1853, 1855, 1861(?), 1864-65, 1866, 2010 (Jan 4) - ongoing
Typical eruption style
Explosive.