Ashes from Turrialba Volcano’s explosions reach San José, Heredia

After more than a month of calm, Turrialba Volcano resumed ash explosions this week, with maximum heights of some 500 meters (1,640 feet) above its crater.

The Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) reported that strong winds carried ash to various locations across the Central Valley on Wednesday.

The agency received ashfall reports in several locations northeast of the capital, San José, including the communities of Coronado, Moravia, Ipís, Guadalupe and Tibás. There are also reports of ashfall in various towns in the province of Heredia.

OVSICORI volcanologist Eliécer Duarte said in a written report that ash eruptions recorded this week are milder than those recorded in February, and that the current volume of expelled ash is lower than in previous months.

The volcano, located some 70 Kilometers (43 miles) northeast of San José, in the province of Cartago, resumed eruptions in the early hours of Sunday. The first eruption occurred at 1:33 a.m. and produced an ash plume of some 500 meters, OVSICORI reported.

“Before this week’s explosions, Turrialba had remained calm for six weeks,” the agency noted.

A National Seismological Network (RSN) report noted that low-intensity volcanic tremors have been occuring after the ash explosions.

“This means there is a continuous circulation of fluids inside the crater,” the report added.

The RSN also warned of possible falling of ash in communities north of the province of Cartago including La Central, La Pastora, El Tapojo and downtown Turrialba.

See other photos of these weeks’ ash explosions posted by the RSN: