Tourists planning trips to Costa Rica might be interested to know that scientists do not anticipate a major eruption of the Turrialba volcano, at least for the time being.
However, the volcano--which is in a national park--continues to rumble and bark and emit gas and ash from a new crater that formed after last week's minor eruption.
Mauricio Mora of the National Seismological Network told reporters Friday that this was normal and does not imply a buildup of activity inside the volcano, which is located in eastern Costa Rica, about 25 miles from the capital city of San Jose.
However, the alert level remains a cautionary yellow and concern remains high enough to keep the park closed and prevent at least 40 evacuees from returning to their homes near the base of the volcano. They're staying with relatives or being housed in shelters, and many are frustrated because they left behind so many belongings, including pets.
Said María Sumbrilla to the Central American country's English-language newspaper, Tico Times: "Our clothes, food, animals, it's all up there and the National Police won't let us in. It's ridiculous. The press show up and they can pass. Ministers and government officials come, and they get access. But the people who have lives up there, they tell us no, you can't pass."
The volcano's last major eruption was in 1866.
-- Pete Thomas
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