Orange Alert Because of the Tungurahua Volcano explosions

Tungurahua Volcano

The National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR for its Spanish acronym) was forced yesterday to change the alert level from yellow to orange in areas considered in high risk, due to the loud explosions of the Tungurahua volcano.

The alert includes the provinces of Tungurahua and Chimborazo, being the populations of Pelileo, Ulba, Pondoa, Cevallos, Latacunga and Salcedo the most affected by the ashes, which affected the celebrations for the 68 years of foundation of the city of Baños.

The explosions began to register at 05:30, when there were two of mild magnitude. The most intense occurred at 06:00. Soon after, ashes began falling  from the volcano that has been in an eruption process for thirteen years.

Baños Emergency Operations Committee (COE for its Spanish acronym) did not suspended the celebration parade and decided to temporarily close the El Salado thermal pools. The SNGR also declared the emergency for humanitarian aid and attention to citizens who will be affected by the volcanic activity.

Patricia Mothes, technical of the Geophysical Institute at the Observatoire of Guadalupe, said yesterday there were roars and explosions not only constant, but also with pyroclastic flows, which remained at the top of the mountain. She also noted that the intensity is expected to increase.