Puracé Volcano Emits Ash Plume Under Continued Orange Alert Status

The Puracé Volcano in southwest Colombia registered a distinct ash emission event on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, according to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC). The eruption propelled a column of volcanic material to an approximate altitude of 1.7 kilometers above the summit, with the resulting plume drifting generally westward. The event occurred at 5:35 p.m. local time, and subsequent confirmation indicated that volcanic fallout, including ash, reached populated areas such as the vereda Cristales.

The SGC maintains the volcano under an Orange Alert status, signifying persistent elevated activity and notable fluctuations across monitored geophysical parameters. This alert level was escalated from Yellow on May 3, 2024, and currently indicates considerable variations in parameters, raising the likelihood of significant eruptive events that could affect infrastructure and communities. Continuous seismic monitoring underpins this sustained unrest, registering signals indicative of internal fluid movement, including Volcanic Tremor and Long Period (LP) earthquakes, suggesting ongoing mobility of gases, hot water, or magma within the conduits.

Cristian Santacoloma, a volcanologist at the Popayán Volcanological and Seismological Observatory, confirmed that the most significant variations in gas flow occurred on that Tuesday, correlating with particulate material consistent with ash in the morning plume. The Popayán Observatory, established permanently in 1992, is responsible for the surveillance of the Los Coconucos volcanic chain, which includes Puracé. Authorities continue to issue firm advisories cautioning the public against venturing into the upper elevations of the volcano due to the potential for intermittent ash discharges.

Puracé is an active andesitic volcano featuring a 600-meter-diameter summit crater and is part of the larger Los Coconucos chain, which comprises 15 eruptive centers across the Cauca department. The volcano’s geological history includes frequent small to moderate explosive eruptions since 1816 CE, with major events recorded in 1849, 1869, and 1885. The SGC has conducted systematic monitoring of Puracé since 1986, utilizing an instrumental network covering seismology, geodesy, and geochemistry to assess hazards.

The Orange Alert status mandates preparedness and mitigation actions, as it suggests the possibility of major eruptions with widespread impact. While the ash emission on November 25 was a minor event, it reinforces the need for vigilance. The SGC, which bolstered its monitoring capacity following the 1985 Nevado del Ruiz disaster, relies on its three observatories—Popayán, Manizales, and Pasto—to manage the network for 23 active volcanoes across Colombia. The public is urged to adhere strictly to guidance from local authorities and remain informed via official SGC bulletins.