Overall Green alert Volcanic eruption for Cotopaxi
in Ecuador

Event summary

GREEN alert: The Cotopaxi Volcanic eruption is unlikely to require external humanitarian assistance based on the exposed population and coping capacity.

GDACS ID VO 1000060
Name: Cotopaxi (352050)
Lat/Lon: -0.68 , -78.44
Event Date: 21 Dec 2022 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 140000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 4390000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 5
Population Exposure Index PEI: 4
Inserted at: 21 Dec 2022 06:32 UTC

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report provides information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Latest Cotopaxi report has been published on 14 Dec 2022 07:09.
IG reported that the low-level eruption at Cotopaxi continued during 7-13 December characterized by steam-and-gas emissions and occasional ash emissions. Sulfur dioxide emissions measured by satellite almost daily averaged 665-2,745 tons per day. Steam-and-gas emissions observed during 7-10 December rose as high as 2 km above the crater rim and drifted SW, W, and NW. Ash emissions during 0758-0816 on 8 December rose 1 km and drifted WNW. The Washington VAAC issued three advisories noting that ash rose 800-1,100 m and drifted W. A tremor signal that started at 0832 on 9 December was probably related to gas-and-ash emissions, though cloudy weather conditions prevented visual confirmation. During the night of 9-10 December several steam-and-ash emissions were identified in satellite images rising as high as 1.1 km and drifting NW. Minor ashfall was reported in Conocoto-Pichincha in the morning of 10 December. At 0930 on 11 December the seismic stations recorded a signal related to gas-and-ash emissions that rose 2 km and drifted W. Ash fell in Control Caspi, located at the S entrance to Parque Nacional Cotopaxi. Several gas-and-steam emissions with low ash content were visible that afternoon and during the morning of 12 December rising as high as 500 m and drifting W. Servicio Nacional de Gesti?n de Riesgos y Emergencias (SNGRE) maintained the Alert Level at Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale). Sources: Instituto Geof?sico-Escuela Polit?cnica Nacional (IG) ,Servicio Nacional de Gesti?n de Riesgos y Emergencias (SNGRE)
See the detail here

Latest media headlines

Chile: se percibe sismo de magnitud 3.7 en Camiña 12/25/2022 7:05:00 AM.

Durante un sismo manten la calma y encuentra un lugar seguro, aléjate de objetos que puedan caer, no utilices los ascensores, ni te quedes en la caja de las escaleras, ni en el marco de una puerta. Si estás en un automóvil , estaciónate y p
...(more)
Tiembla en Chile: sismo de 3.2 de magnitud en Calama 12/25/2022 6:47:00 AM.

Durante un temblor manten la calma y encuentra un lugar seguro, aléjate de objetos que puedan caer, no uses los ascensores, ni te quedes en la caja de las escaleras, ni en el marco de una puerta. Si estás en un automóvil , estaciónate y pon
...(more)
Tiembla en Chile: sismo de 3.2 de magnitud en El Tabo 12/25/2022 6:07:00 AM.

Durante un temblor conserva la calma y ubícate en un lugar seguro, aléjate de objetos que puedan caer, no uses los ascensores, ni te quedes en la caja de las escaleras, ni en el marco de una puerta. Si estás en un automóvil , estaciónate y
...(more)
Temblor en Chile: sismo de 3.8 de magnitud en la ciudad de Mejillones 12/24/2022 11:51:00 PM.

Durante un terremoto conserva la calma y ubícate en un lugar seguro, aléjate de objetos que puedan caer, no uses los ascensores, ni te quedes en la caja de las escaleras, ni en el marco de una puerta. Si estás en un automóvil , estaciónate
...(more)

Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (32), (2), INGV (2), DesInventar (1), WMO (1), INFORM (2), JSR (1),