PHOTO: Scientists conduct temperature measurements at the crater of Turrialba volcano Thursday. (courtesy RSN)
Turrialba volcano, some 30 miles east of Costa Rica's capital of San Jose, erupted Wednesday night, sending a mushroom cloud of ash, rocks, and possibly magma into the sky, producing seismic activity in surrounding areas. The volcano continued erupting gas and ash through Thursday, leaving all in the area scrambling to take cover.
Cited as the most intense eruption in a century by volcanologists, Turrialba, located in the center of the country, caused the evacuation of local villages, and a no-fly zone around the mountain. Local residents are being evacuated to nearby shelters, according to BBC News.
No injuries were reported, and the mountain is being watched closely. Costa Rica is home to numerous volcanoes, most of which are dormant.
The active volcano has not affected tourism in Turrialba thus far, according to the National Tourism Chamber and the Turrialba Tourism Chamber.
"We've been in contact with local chamber members and several business owners who said they are operating normally," CANATUR President Pablo Abarca told The Tico Times Thursday evening.
The Turrialba region is a large tourist draw, mostly for outdoor adventure activities like rafting, ziplining and birdwatching.
Officials say that tourism has been unaffected thus far because the volcano is north of the main tourist destinations, and that wind conditions are moving ash mostly northwest at this point.
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