Post by Paddy by Grace on May 25, 2010 13:10:05 GMT -7
www.terradaily.com/reports/Costa_Rica_volcano_erupts_national_park_evacuated_999.html
Costa Rica's Arenal volcano erupted Monday, spewing geysers of lava, ash and toxic gases from its crater and forcing the evacuation of the national park where it is located, authorities said.
The 1,633-meter-tall (5,450 foot) cone-shaped mountain in northern Costa Rica shuddered into activity at midday (1800 GMT), issuing eight successive rivers of lava that flowed down its steep slopes, National Volcanology and Seismology Observatory expert Elicer Duarte told AFP.
He said nobody was at risk from the eruptions but authorities as a precaution evacuated the Arenal National Park, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of San Jose.
The Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica's major tourist attractions and the park has scores of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping centers.
No estimates were given of how many people were inside the park when the eruption began.
Arenal's last major eruption in July 1968 killed 89 people. Smaller eruptions have occurred at least six times over the past 35 years.
Costa Rica's Arenal volcano erupted Monday, spewing geysers of lava, ash and toxic gases from its crater and forcing the evacuation of the national park where it is located, authorities said.
The 1,633-meter-tall (5,450 foot) cone-shaped mountain in northern Costa Rica shuddered into activity at midday (1800 GMT), issuing eight successive rivers of lava that flowed down its steep slopes, National Volcanology and Seismology Observatory expert Elicer Duarte told AFP.
He said nobody was at risk from the eruptions but authorities as a precaution evacuated the Arenal National Park, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of San Jose.
The Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica's major tourist attractions and the park has scores of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping centers.
No estimates were given of how many people were inside the park when the eruption began.
Arenal's last major eruption in July 1968 killed 89 people. Smaller eruptions have occurred at least six times over the past 35 years.