12/03/2025

Samuel Clifford

Puracé is an andesitic stratovolcano located in the Cauca Department of southwest Colombia, within the Puracé National Natural Park. An andesitic stratovolcano is a tall, steep-sided volcano built from layers of lava, ash, and volcanic debris, where the dominant rock type erupted is andesite—a medium-silica volcanic rock that produces both thick lava flows and explosive eruptions. It rises to about 4,646 meters (15,243 ft) and is part of the Los Coconucos volcanic chain in the Central Andes. Historically, Puracé has produced explosive eruptions in the 19th and 20th centuries, with its last major eruption recorded in 1977. Other major eruptions occurred in 1885 and 1949.

In late November 2025, the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) reported increased seismicity beneath the crater, continuous tremor, and long-period signals associated with fluid movement. Gas-and-ash plumes have risen up to 700 meters above the summit, with ashfall reaching Popayán, a city about 27 km away. Due to this intensified activity, authorities raised the alert level to Orange. Orange indicates heightened unrest or an ongoing eruption with limited but significant hazards. Authorities expect ashfall, gas emissions, and possible lava flows that can affect people living nearby.

Sources:

“Orange Alert: Puracé Volcano Renewed Eruptive Activity, Colombia, December 2025.” The Watchers, 3 Dec. 2025, https://watchers.news/2025/12/03/orange-alert-purace-volcano-renewed-eruptive-activity-colombia-december-2025/.

“Puracé Volcano, Colombia Activity Update Dec 2, 2025: Unrest.” Volcano Discovery, 2 Dec. 2025, https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/purace/news/288530/Purace-Volcano-Colombia-activity-update-Dec-2-2025-Unrest.html.