The Nevado del Huila volcano in Colombia’s south western department of Huila has reawakened, initially discharging ash which is predominantly affecting the indigenous communities within the surrounding area.
The town council of Cauca municipalities bordering Huila on Monday drew up a risk assessment report and ordered the suspension of school activities in the area, stated a report by newspaper La Nacion on Tuesday.
Red Cross coordinator, Jorge Quintero, assured that “we have activated the contingency plan … we have everything ready in the event that we are told we must leave, and at that point we will evacuate.”
According to authorities there is a consistent tremor pulse coming from the volcano and the large expulsion of ash that occured early Monday morning signals a potential impending eruption.
Quintero announced on Monday the actions to take against inhalation of the ash as well as methods for the treatment of drinking water that may be affected by the volcano.
The Nevado del Huila volcano is Colombia’s highest volcano and had been dormant for 500 years until it resumed activity in 2007. The volcano erupted again in November 2008.