Authorities reported on Monday (11) that they are investigating a “possible eruption” of a mud volcano in the San José Mulatos region, in the department of Antioquia, in the northwest of the country.
The National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) said on X network that emergency agencies were heading to the scene to accompany the department’s authorities to verify what happened.
The UNGRD added that citizens are recommended to follow instructions and obtain information through official channels.
The Colombian Geological Survey (SGC) indicated that it cannot yet confirm whether it is one or not.
“We are taking all measures to check in the field,” said the institution’s technical director, John Makario Londoño, in a video sent to the media.
This comes after the mayor of the municipality of Turbo, Alejandro Abuchar, reported volcanic activity in the city, and the governor of the department, Andrés Julián Rendón, reported that the Administrative Department of Risk Management of Antioquia was called in to manage the emergency.
Volcano in activity in the San José de mulatos district TURBO 🌋
— Alejandro Abuchar (@AAbuchar)
Eruption or explosion?
Londoño said it was “very likely” that Monday’s incident was “an eruption of many of the mud volcanoes that exist in this sector” and that these types of eruptions “are not strange” in the region.
“The important thing to highlight, emphasize and clarify is that these types of mud volcanoes are very different from volcanoes that expel lava and magma, which are explosive and violent and can reach a very large area, affecting many people”, explained the person in charge.
“These mud volcanoes have very small and very restricted eruptions, and it is very likely that what you see in these videos as an explosion is methane gas that ignites and explodes,” added Londoño in relation to the videos circulating on social media.
As of Monday, no injuries or evacuation orders had been reported due to the incident.
A CNN contacted local authorities to obtain more information about the case.
