Quito, (31/08/2015) On August 14, the Cotopaxi Volcano, which rises about 50 km (31 mi) south of Quito, and 33 km (21 mi) northeast of the city of Latacunga in the Ecuadorian Andes, to a height of 5,897 m (19,347 ft), increased its volcanic activity, emitting ash clouds. The Geophysics Institute of Quito’s National Polytechnic School had placed the stratovolcano under active watch on 25 June 2015 after observing growing activity.

On August 14, a Yellow Alert was declared in the provinces of Cotopaxi, Tungurahua and Pichincha as a result of the ash emissions from the volcano.

Following the announcement of a yellow alert, President Rafael Correa declared a State of Exception throughout the country, enabling the central government to allocate resources swiftly in case of an emergency.

According to the latest bulletins issued by the Ministry of Safety Coordination, the Geophysical Institute reported on Monday 31^sta high level of internal activity and moderate activity at the surface. Gas emissions were continuous from Friday evening to Monday morning, carrying moderate loads of ash up to 1 km into the atmosphere. This ash was carried by the prevailing winds to the west and northwest. Ash was reported as having fallen in the areas of Machachi, El Chaupi, and some areas of Rumiñahui, and along the E35 Panamerican Highway west of the volcano.

The Ministry of Safety Coordination monitors the volcano 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, employing all the apparatuses available to the Geophysical Institute and including the processing of satellite imagery by Ecuadorian and foreign universities. At present, there are no indications of an imminent eruption, which would be signalled by significantly greater gas and ash emissions, seismic activity in the volcano’s vent, a deformation of its cone and audible rumbling.

The Ministry of Tourism requests all tourists and tour operators remain alert to the guidelines and recommendations provided by the Ministry of Safety Coordination:

• volcancotopaxi.com
• hashtag#volcancotopaxion social media
• Ministry of Tourismbulletins

Airports

All airports in Ecuador are currently operational, including the airport in Latacunga.

Air traffic

Ash clouds in the atmosphere have caused a few delays or re-routing of flights.

Protected Areas

As a result of ash falling in the area, and to ensure the safety of visitors, the Cotopaxi National Park and El Boliche National Recreation Area were both closed until further notice following the eruption on the 14^th August. Entrance to these areas is restricted. No activities can take place within them.

All other protected areas, including Cayambe Coca, Galápagos Islands, Llanganates, Machalilla, Podocarpus, Sangay, Sumaco, Yasuni, Yacuri and Cajas, are open.

For adventure lovers, Ecuador has great options: Ilinizas Ecological Reserves, El Angel, Antisana, CotacachiCayapas; Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge, PululahuaGeobotany Reserve; Puyango Petrified Forest; Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve; Limoncocha Biological Reserve; among others.

Basic Services (water, electricity, gas, etc).

None have been reported as affected to date.

Accommodation in the vicinity of the volcano

The Ministry of Tourism has identified nine establishments in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. Their status is currently closed, pending a review of their emergency and operational plans, which should be complete by Wednesday 2^nd September. We will post an update on these statuses as soon as we have it.

Roads

There are reports of some delays on the Pan-American Highway E35 due to ash falls.

Railways

The Ecuadorian Railway Company announced that it will only run the route Quito-Machachi until further notice, curtailing the service further south to El Boliche, due to safety reasons. All other services continue to run as normal. For more details, see
http://trenecuador.com/en/

Tips and Recommendations if close to ash:

• Protect your eyes with glasses or goggles (swimming goggles or even masks for snorkelling), your nose and mouth with a damp cloth and/or mask. If you use contact lenses, it’s better to remove them.
• Wear clothes that cover your body, to prevent skin irritation.
• When staying in a hotel,review the emergency evacuation plans of the establishment.
• Carry a bottle of saline solution (“suerofisiológico”) with you, available at most pharmacies. Dab on eyes with a cloth to avoid irritation.

General Tips and Recommendations:

• In your traveller’s day-pack, carry extra water, a torch with back-up batteries, extra snacks, cloth, copies of your travel documents and contact details of next-of-kin.

An Orange alert is a warning to prepare for an impending adverse event; and a red alert refers to an emergency or disaster.

For more information:

www.volcancotopaxi.com
#volcancotopaxion social media.
www.igepn.edu.ec/cotopaxi

Remember that Ecuador is the land of four worlds in the middle of the world: there are varied and beautiful regions unaffected by the Cotopaxi Volcano in the Andes, the Pacfic Coast, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands.