16:00 | General Sanchez Cerro (Moquegua region), Jul. 4.
Several towns within the districts of Ubinas and Matalaque, located in General Sanchez Cerro province (Moquegua region), were the first affected by the fall of ash following the explosions at Ubinas Volcano, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, the
Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) reported.
According to the IGP, the ash fall took place in both districts, with a thickness of up to 1 mm in the district of Ubinas.
"This scenario had been warned by the IGP as clear indicators of magma moving into the surface became available, including seismicity associated with the magma movement and thermal anomalies over the crater," it stated.
In a statement, Peru's geophysics agency confirmed that the explosive stage at Ubinas Volcano began on Tuesday at around 3:17 a.m. (local time), resulting in a 5 km high eruptive column and the dispersion of the ash cloud —by the wind— towards the south and southeast areas of the volcano.
In this regard, IGP volcanologist Jose Del Carpio explained that Tuesday's event might mark the start of a period of explosive activity at Ubinas Volcano.
"From here on out, eruptions could occur at intervals of hours, dumping ash on nearby districts such as Ubinas, Yunga, Lloque, Chojata, Matalaque, and San Juan de Tarucani, depending on the winds' predominant direction," Del Carpio remarked.
For his part, IGP Executive President Hernando Tavera emphasized that, a few days ago, Moquegua's regional authorities were duly informed of the eruptive scenarios at Ubinas Volcano, in the face of possible explosions, which finally occurred today.
Within this context, the IGP recommends adopting response measures to safeguard the health of people who live near Ubinas Volcano.
(END) NDP/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 7/4/2023