By Wendy Anders

What might possibly be the largest of the recent Turrialba volcano eruptions started at 7:22 this morning, according to the National University’s Volcanology and Seismology Observatory (Ovsicori-UNA).

A photo on their site shows a cloud of ash reaching nearly 3,000m. The blast caused tremors that were felt by nearby residents.

A Facebook follower in Alto de las Palomas, Escazú was surprised to capture the eruption, and other followers are posting photos from Desamparados, Cartago, and the surrounding region.

Winds out of the northwest are expected to carry the ash towards the metropolitan Central Valley area.

Last night smaller 500m-high ballistic eruptions of ash, gases, and rock fragments were recorded after 9:00, and again shortly after 10:00. Winds carried ash in a southwesterly direction towards Orosi, San Gerardo de Dota, and Quepos, reported Ovsicori-UNA. Ovsicori said that in these eruptions the molten rock fragments could be spewed as far as 10kms from the crater, and because of their high temperature could cause damage if they come in contact with people, animals, infrastructure, and trees and plants.

This latest eruption comes just two months after a series of large eruptions that stretched from May 20 until around May 24 and dusted the Central Valley in ash, causing several international airlines to reroute planes due to ash at Alajuela’s Juan Sanataria International airport.