The Puracé volcano in Cauca department emitted ash reaching 1.7 kilometers above its summit. Ash fallout was reported in the Cristales vereda near Puracé municipality. The Colombian Geological Service maintains the yellow alert due to ongoing seismic activity.
The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) reported a new ash emission from the Puracé volcano, located in the Los Coconucos volcanic chain in Cauca department. This emission reached about 1.7 kilometers above the summit, with material fallout confirmed in the Cristales vereda, northwest of the volcano and within Puracé municipality jurisdiction.
The volcano's activity includes seismicity linked to fluid movement, featuring tremor-type signals and long-period events. Gustavo Santacoloma, a volcanologist at the Popayán Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, advised against approaching the upper parts of the volcano due to the recent activity. "Puracé has been on yellow alert for over a year," Santacoloma stated, noting that the observed phenomena align with this alert level, potentially leading to sporadic ash emissions ahead.
The expert also highlighted possible further signs such as incandescence, small crater explosions, low-energy thermal anomalies, noises, felt earthquakes, volcanic gas smells, sulfur deposits nearby, off-crater degassing, crack formation, and minor lahars. These features emphasize the ongoing need for monitoring by authorities to address risks in surrounding areas.