Bulletin No. 99 – Cotopaxi volcano situation 09/12/2015

Volcano status: In eruptive process
Internal activity: Moderate
Surface activity: Low
At night, using the thermal camera, slight vapor emissions were recorded at the level of the crater. In the morning, slight emissions of these elements, in west direction, reaching a height between 100 and 200 meters above the crater, were visualized. At the moment, the volcano is cloudy, so surface activity can’t be observed. There have been no rains in the sector.
Accommodation:
The Ministry of Tourism visited affected areas with the Secretary of Risk Management, Geophysical Institute and Municipality of Mejia.
The Ministry of Environment authorizes Tambopaxi, located within the Cotopaxi National Park, remains closed as a precaution.
The Ministry of Tourism, in partnership with the Red Cross, continues working on contingency plans for establishments in the north zone of the Cotopaxi volcano.
Flights
Local airports are open and operating normally, including Latacunga Airport. For further information, please visit: http://www.aviacioncivil.gob.ec/
Roads
The country’s roadways are operating normally. To learn more about the current state of roadways, visit: http://www.obraspublicas.gob.ec/mapa-estado-de-carreteras-ecuador/
Railways
Ferrocarriles del Ecuador EP (Ecuadorian Railways Company) has modified some of their routes. For more information visit: http://trenecuador.com/ferrocarrilesdelecuador/
Tourism in Ecuador
The Ministry of Tourism, in coordination with the Secretariat for Risk Management, Geophysical Institute, National Police, Government of Napo, tour operators and tourist providers, conducted the tour for the banks of the Jatunyacu River and in tourist communities that are in the danger zone, to identify evacuation routes in activities such as rafting, kayaking, community tourism, among others. The Geophysical Institute, in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, presented the provisional risk map for Napo to the COE of Napo and the community. To see the map, go to: http://on.fb.me/1XWaoGb
ECU911 smartphone application
Download the application for free. This facilitates emergency care across the country, through the geo-referenced location of the incident, by smartphones. For further information, visit: www.ecu911.gob.ec/aplicacionparacelulares/
The Ministry of Tourism advices tourists and tour operators to remain alert to guidelines and recommendations provided by the Ministry of Security Coordination, through its official channels: www.seguridad.gob.ec. To be informed about the volcano situation, you can also visit: www.volcancotopaxi.com (here you will find a Tourism section with useful information for the tourism industry), or on social networks like #VolcánCotopaxi.
Approved by: Ministry of Safety Coordination