Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia May Erupt in 'Days to Weeks'

Some news brought to my attention by Eruptions reader Sherine merited a quick Saturday post. The developing volcanic crisis at Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia looks like it is continuing to escalate. INGEOMINAS, the Colombian geological survey, released a "special bulletin" this afternoon elevating the alert status at Nevado del Ruiz to Orange Level (II). This means that the signs of activity at the volcano suggest that an eruption is likely in the days to weeks timescale. Marta Calvache from INGEOMINAS mentioned that over the past few days the volcano has experienced tremors related to "fluid motion" (likely magma), rock fracture earthquakes at the summit have been increasing in pulses and sulfur dioxide emissions continue to be high. So far, INGEOMINAS thinks any potentially eruption will be smaller than the activity seen during Ruiz's last eruptive period between 1985-1989. The major hazard from Ruiz is the lahars that can be ...