Colombia is home to many natural wonders, including the Nevado del Ruiz volcano. While this majestic mountain has impressed tourists and locals alike, it also poses a significant risk to those living in the surrounding areas due to the potential for volcanic activity. As the threat of an eruption looms, Colombian authorities are taking steps to evacuate those living closest to the volcano. This article will explore why this volcano presents such a significant danger, and what residents and visitors can do to stay safe in the event of a potential eruption.
Colombian authorities are planning to evacuate residents living within a 15-kilometer radius of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which has been showing signs of a potential eruption. Last week, the government raised the volcano’s alert level to orange, following a surge in seismic activity. The authorities have stated that more evacuations may be necessary in the coming days.
The national disaster unit interim director, Luis Fernando Velasco, said that “we support the decision of local committees to evacuate some people, it’s probable that in the coming days, we will need to evacuate additional people.” The evacuation is a preventative measure as the areas close to the volcano have poor communication infrastructure, making it challenging to contact people swiftly in the event of an eruption.
Forty families in Caldas province will be evacuated first, and 500 additional families may be asked to do the same. The Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano, or composite volcano, which straddles the border between Colombia’s Tolima and Caldas provinces. The authorities will evacuate children, even if adult family members opt to stay.
The authorities are monitoring areas around rivers and those prone to landslides in case of an eruption, and are shoring up roads that would be used for evacuations. Plans are being made for shelters for evacuees and the transport of livestock and pets.
The government announced that Caldas Governor Luis Carlos Velasquez has requested 800 million pesos (about $173,800) from the national government to strengthen an early warning system, 400 million pesos for machinery, and funding for evacuees’ housing.
The Nevado del Ruiz volcano was the cause of Colombia’s biggest natural disaster when it erupted in 1985, causing avalanches of earth and rock fragments that buried entire settlements and killed over 25,000 people. The Colombian authorities are taking no chances and have offered reassurance that they are doing everything possible to keep residents safe.
Julia Symmes Cobb reported this story for Reuters. Bernadette Baum edited it, and The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles apply to this content.
