Turrialba Volcano has allowed Costa Ricans to stop sweeping ashes. However, this does not mean the colossus is inactive.
According to the specialists of the National Volcanological and Seismological Observatory (OVSICORI), the volcano is still active, so they remain on alert.
The volcano has been silent for little over three weeks now, but, according to volcanologist Eliécer Duarte, this is just an external appearance. Despite not releasing solid products, it has emitted abundant steam and magmatic gases.
In recent years, this volcano has shown typical ups and downs in terms of activity, with long periods of eruptions and others where it has remained calm. Last year, it spent about 8 weeks without expelling ash, and then it remained active for several consecutive weeks.
The most recent period of high activity was between December 2016 and January 2017.