Photo: Archive
Poás, Turrialba, and the Rincón de la Vieja volcanoes in Alajuela, Cartago and Guanacaste respectively, continue this 2019 with important activity and constant eruptions.

On January 17, 2019, the Rincón de la Vieja presented a moderate phreatic eruption (or perhaps a phreatomagmatic eruption, this is still being determined by the laboratory) at 1:30 a.m. and in the main crater where the hyperacid lake is located. The eruption lasted only 2 minutes but it caused ejection of solid and liquid materials from the bottom of the active crater that were transported by the flow of the rivers and the rain towards the low areas of the north sector of the volcano.

At around 6 a.m. the daylight allowed the neighbors to see a thick layer of sediments and mud being transported by the water of several of the rivers to the north of the Rincón de la Vieja: the Pénjamo, Quebrada Azufre, Río Azul and Pizote. Neighbors also informed of the death of a large amount of fishes and other aquatic species in the area of the community of Birmania some 15km distance from the main crater of the Volcano.

The day prior to the eruption, personnel of the National University’s Volcanology and Seismology Research Institute (OVSICORI) had observed the rivers and they all had clear waters. Specialists took samples of the material expelled by the volcano for their analysis.

This volcano has presented numerous phreatic eruptions and in occasions phreatomagmatic eruptions since 2011 and therefore it is important for visitors and residents of the nearby areas to take the necessary precautions and avoid the areas of higher risk near the volcano.

On the other hand, the Poás Volcano entered a phase of “geyser-like” activity (characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam just like a geyser), which have been present and constant since December 2018 and are still taking place. Columns of water vapor and gas reach a height of between 500-800 meters above the crater.

The Turrialba volcano has been presenting intermittent eruptions and a continues weak and passive emission of ash.