(ETH) – Residents of Ecuador are being warned of imminent danger from a volcano that has been active since 1999 and has collapsed twice before in history. Scientists have come out warning that the Tungurahua volcano is exhibiting early signs of what they are saying is an impending “catastrophic collapse”. The warning comes after satellite data has revealed substantial internal damage from ongoing magma activity.
A Geophysical volcanologist recently stated: “Using satellite data we have observed very rapid deformation of Tungurahua’s west flank, which our research suggests is caused by imbalances between magma being supplied and magma being erupted,”
The danger of such a collapse is that it could trigger massive landslides and pyroclastic flows, which can travel for tens of kilometers. According to RT News, One example, of such a collapse 3,000 years ago is thought to have laid waste to an area of roughly 80km sq (11,000 football fields). Meanwhile, an eruption in 1999 forced the evacuation of some 25,000 people, so the impact on human life in the area should the volcano collapse again would be truly staggering. MORE
