Could melt the icecap and form deadly lahars, but the government is restricting information.
During the past week, small eruptions have continued at Cotopaxi volcano. In fact, the government confirmed yet another eruption yesterday morning.
“Cotopaxi is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes due to its proximity to population centres and very explosive activity, coupled with a tremendous potential for devastating volcanic mudflows, called lahars, which are formed by rapid melting of the icecap,” says the University of Bristol’s Dr Jo Gottsmann.
In 1877, Cotopaxi generated a large lahar that traveled more than 326 km (202 miles) to the Pacific coast. Along that path lies the Valle de Los Chillos, where more than 200,000 people now live along the lahar channels.
“The government this week warned that 325,000 people were at risk and declared a state of emergency. Reporting about the volcano has also been restricted.”
“We watch the news for information and there isn’t a single story about the volcano, yet I watched as it erupted again today.“ (emphasis added).
“Ash from the volcano has already fallen on my town and the cattle, they are getting ill and a few have died,” said Luz Maria Masabanda in Romerillo.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/
Thanks to Rosco Mac for this link
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