(QCOSTARICA) From 2 to 5 is now the security ring around the Turrialba volcano, increased on Monday following a series eruptions since Saturday afternoon, most lasting up to half hour or more.
While volcanologists admit it is difficult to predict the behaviour of the colossus, they are expecting it to continue with constant eruptions.
For now the ash fall has not spread past the usual areas of the Central Valley, which includes the San Jose (Juan Santamaria) airport, in the early hours of Monday morning forcing a 3 hour closure, affecting some 14 flights.
In areas like Heredia, Coronado and Moravia, the smell of sulfur has been steady.
Monday morning the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE) announced that the security ring around the volcano would be expanded to 5 kilometers. By the end of the day, it was 10 kilometres.
In the cantones of Turrialba and Alvarado, the CNE maintains a “yellow alert”.
Maria Martinez of the OVSICORI, said that as of Monday afternoon, the volcano had experienced 12 eruptive events since Saturday.