A month after the Puracé volcano was elevated from Yellow to Orange alert, Colombian authorities say they’re still watching it closely. The volcano, part of the Los Coconucos chain in southwestern Colombia, has kept scientists on edge since the alert level rose on August 1, 2026.
According to the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), the agency responsible for tracking seismic and volcanic activity nationwide, a swarm of about 550 small earthquakes was recorded northeast of the volcano’s main structure. That swarm remains under active surveillance, the agency said, as part of its broader effort to understand what’s happening beneath Puracé.
Beyond the earthquakes, officials point to several other warning signs that justify keeping the Orange alert in place: ongoing ash emissions, unusually high concentrations of volcanic gases, elevated ground temperatures, and measurable shifts in the terrain’s shape. Together, these signals suggest that magma or fluids may be moving closer to the surface, though the SGC has not indicated an eruption is imminent.
Orange is the second-highest level on Colombia’s four-tier volcanic alert scale, signaling that an eruption could occur within days or weeks. Communities near the volcano are advised to stay alert to official updates.
You can read the full original report at El Tiempo for more details on the volcano’s activity.
Source: Totoró bajo vigilancia por enjambre sísmico cerca del volcán Puracé: continúa la alerta naranja (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: NASA, ISS Expedition 5 crew member.