Authorities in the central Colombian city of Manizales on Monday warned the Nevado del Ruiz volcano may erupt again soon.
According to the Manizales Vulcan and Seismological Observatory, the volcano that erupted on Saturday “continues to show important changes and we can not rule out the possibility of new eruptions.”
Saturday’s minor eruption during which the Nevado del Ruiz spewed minor cuantitties of lava and sent a six-mile high cloud ash and gases into the sky forced authorities to declare a red alert which was lowered to orange the next day after the volcano’s seismic activity had decreased.
Colombia’s Air Force sent helicopters and airplanes to the region Monday morning to help local vulcanologists monitor the volcano.
The 17,457 foot Nevado del Ruiz volcano is one of the deadliest volcanoes in Colombia. An avalanche following an eruption in 1985 wiped away the town of Armero, killing 25,000.