The alert status of the volcano was raised to „Level 3“, as the activity continues at high levels characterized by stronger-than-usual vulcanian-type explosions.
The decision about the alert status change was made by the Scientific Advisory Committee yesterday based on the ongoing volcano’s activity.
The strong eruptive phase at the volcano continues by throwing a large amount of incandescent lava fragments from the summit crater onto the variously oriented slopes.
Grey ash-rich columns reached 32,000 ft (9,800 m) height and drifted E over the past 48 hours.
Seismic records registered 1136 minutes of volcano-tectonic tremor and 31 ongoing emissions of water vapor, gas and ash over the past 24 hours.
The crater area of the volcano remains closed for climbing as the risk of being caught in sudden explosions is very high. People are advised to avoid the crater area within a 12 km radius. Additionally, the warning bulletin states that lahars (mud flows) could also occur if heavy rainfalls remobilize fresh ashfall deposits.
Source: Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres volcano activity update 22 May 2023
