Based on the recommendation of the Comité Científico Asesor (CCA) in participation with the Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (CNPC), a decision has been made to decline the current Level 3 alert for the volcano back to Level 2.
The decision followed short-term fluctuating levels at the volcano, i.e. there might lead to either increase or decrease in the general activity. Monitored data indicate a slight drop of detected parameters over the last few days, characterized by small amounts of ash emissions, glowing lava bombs, and low-to-moderate amplitude tremor. Vulcanian-type explosions have been mostly mild only, but fluctuated in both frequency and intensity.
The current phase of the volcano, beginning in September 2022, indicates rising batch of magma shifting inside the volcano’s conduit. Volcanologists have found the process not finished yet.
According to the committee, the most likely short-term scenario is that the activity itself will continue to vary, meaning it might either increase or decrease. Given the fluctuating intensity, the alert level for the volcano may be recommended to raise its level back to Level 3 in the upcoming days or weeks.
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.
Seismic records registered 202 minutes of amplitude low-to-moderate tremor including a volcano-tectonic earthquake M 1.2 over the past 24 hours associated with 76 emissions of gas, water vapor and ash.
The explosive eruption at the volcano continues at reduced values. At 12:11 PM yesterday, an eruption occurred from the summit crater.
Source: Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres volcano activity update 7 June 2023
