Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Popayán, Servicio Geologico Colombiano (SGC) lowered the Alert Level for Puracé to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale) on 5 July noting that activity had declined and stabilized. Seismicity had increased around 24 April, peaked during 30 May-6 June with the highest daily number of earthquakes recorded since instrumental monitoring began, and then declined to pre-unrest levels during the past few weeks. The magnitudes of the earthquakes decreased to less than M1. Sulfur dioxide emissions also decreased during the previous few weeks and deformation rates were similar to those detected before the period of unrest.

Geological Summary. Puracé in Colombia consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with a 500-m-wide summit crater constructed over a dacitic shield volcano. It lies at the NW end of a volcanic massif opposite Pan de Azúcar stratovolcano, 6 km SE. A NW-SE-trending group of seven cones and craters, Los Coconucos, lies between the two larger edifices. Frequent explosive eruptions in the 19th and 20th centuries have modified the morphology of the summit crater. The largest eruptions occurred in 1849, 1869, and 1885.

Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)