Colombia’s Geological Service (SGC) issued a special bulletin on August 30 after detecting a sudden spike in seismic activity near Puracé Volcano, part of the Los Coconucos volcanic chain in the southwestern department of Cauca.
Officials said the surge amounts to an earthquake “swarm,” a term used when many small to moderate tremors strike a localized area over a short period. According to the agency, the shaking is being caused by the fracturing of rock beneath the volcanic system, a process that can signal shifting underground pressure but does not necessarily mean an eruption is imminent.
The tremors were felt most strongly in the San Rafael valley and surrounding communities, where residents described a tense morning as the ground shook repeatedly. People in several other municipalities across Cauca also reported feeling the movement.
The SGC, Colombia’s equivalent of the U.S. Geological Survey, closely monitors the country’s more than a dozen active volcanoes and regularly issues alerts to keep nearby populations informed. Puracé, a stratovolcano that has erupted periodically over the past century, remains under close observation as scientists work to determine whether the current activity will escalate.
For now, authorities have not ordered evacuations, but they are urging residents to stay alert to further updates as the situation develops. To read the full original report from El Tiempo, follow the link to their site.
Image: NASA Goddard Photo and Video, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).