Tourist guides by-pass the controls on Turrialba Volcano to bring visitors to restricted-access areas.
The complaint was raised by the National Emergency Commission (CNE). Apparently, in recent days, several people have reached restricted points of entry in high parts and rivers.
The volcano, whose activity has increased since October 2014, has reported recent eruptions of considerable intensity.
We know of people who are illegally entering these areas of risk and are unnecessarily exposed to sudden volcanic activity and the direct effect of gases, ash, high-speed expulsion of large rocks, gas and steam clouds, burning ash and all the materials carried by the rains of these days,”
denounced the CNE.
Tour guides circumvent the controls set up within a radius of two kilometers around the crater. They reach potentially dangerous areas such as La Silvia, La Picada and Quebrada Paredes.
The Technical Advisory Committee on Volcanology was clear in pointing out that, although there are periods of less activity, a volcano such as Turrialba does not warn about the time or direction of the gas plume.
Restricted areas must be respected with an attitude of self-protection and responsibility to avoid unfortunate incidents. Don’t trust if volcanic activity decreases, as volcanic conditions can change suddenly,”
said the scientific group.
The expert committee is made up of scientists and geologists from the National Seismological Network (RSN), Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI) and CNE.