Costa Rican volcano begins spewing ash, gas and vapor
Pastor Dale Morgan
Costa Rican volcano begins spewing ash, gas and vapor*
SAN JOSE, Dec 5 (AFP) Dec 05, 2007
Costa Rica's Turrialba volcano on Wednesday began spewing ash, vapor and
gas, raising alarm among experts over a potential eruption though no
evacuations have yet been ordered, officials said.
"Reports from neighbors located at the foot of the volcano indicate that
a thick white column of gas and vapor has begun rising from the
volcano's crater," said the Costa Rican Volcanic and Seismologic
Observatory.
It added that witnesses have over the past few weeks reported fields
burning nearby Turrialba, which is located 40 kilometers (25 miles) from
the Costa Rican capital San Jose.
Officials have been closely monitoring Turrialba since May due to a mild
increase in its seismic activity.
Around 40 kilometers (25 miles) away from the volcano lies a city by the
same name, most of whose 80,000 residents cultivate sugar cane or coffee
or are involved in tourism, the main industry in the Central American
country of 4.2 million people.
The volcano last erupted in 1866.