Poás Volcano in Costa Rica explodes 1,000 feet in air

Costa Rica witnessed the eruption of an active volcano on Tuesday afternoon, 25.02.14. The eruption was recorded on a webcam from the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of

Costa Rica (OVSICORI). The moment a dark cloud exploded about 1,000 feet in the air from a massive crater of the Poás Volcano.

The blast was phreatic explosion which occurs when magma or hot rocks heat surface water to the point where it boils and quickly explodes in a burst of steam said the research institute, affiliated with the National University of Costa Rica.

In such volcanoes with the lake at the summit water seeps into the cracks in the crater and heats up. Any ash or lava seen in the blast was likely old magma and ash from a previous larger eruption, Klemetti explained.

Earlier this month, Costa Rica’s National Seismological Network (RSN) released a report saying that the volcano’s crater was glowing red-hot with molten rock and was emitting sulfur.

Small-scale eruptions are not uncommon for the 8,884 foot giant. Geology site Volcano Discovery said there have been eruptions during every year of this decade so far. Klemetti said the volcano provudes five to 10 of these per month.

The crater of Poás Volcano, seen her in a photo from 2010, is one of the most visited tourist sites in Costa Rica.

But this regularity does not mean these explosions cannot kill. Last May five hikers died in an unexpected explosion on Mount Mayon in the Philippines.

These volcanoes are fairly unexpected and are dangerous for hikers moving towards the summit. Poás Volcano, a frequently visited tourist site, is one of the country’s most prominent natural landmarks. It is located in a national park of the same name in the Alajuela Province.