QCOSTARICA – A crack that continue to grow at the Irazu volcano is forcing the relocation of radio and television transmission towers from the colossus.
According to the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Ovsicori), the crack is growing at a rate of one centimeter per day.
“The situation is inevitable. We urge the moving those towers and we will expedite the process, because seeing the magnitude of the problem, the situation requires an emergency declaration,” said the ministra de Ciencia, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones (Micitt) (Minister of Science and Technology and Telecommunications), Gisela Kopper.
The minister said she has met with the Cámara de Radio y Televisión de Costa Rica (Canartel) – Chamber of Radio and Television of Costa Rica, and confirmed she will be asking President Luis Guillermo Solis, to issue a directive to streamline the process of moving the towers.
Atop the Irazu there are 83 telecommunications towers, five of which are at greater risk due to their proximity to the crack.
The eventual collapse of the area where the towers are located could disrupt communications services in the country.
Experts in telecommunications warn that it is difficult to find another crest with similar characteristics to the volcano to achieve the desired coverage.
Source: La Nacion