Updated on Monday, September 19.

By Wendy Anders

The Turrialba Volcano is in a new phase of eruptive activity, reported the National Costa Rican University’s Volcanology and Seismology Research Institute (Ovsicori-UNA) today on their Facebook page.

Starting last Tuesday, September 13 volcanic tremors have been recorded daily. These have caused plumes of 100 – 400 meters high consisting of gases, aerosols and ash, reported Ovsicori.

Prevailing winds out of the east have caused a sulfur scent and also some light ash to be detected in areas to the west of Turrialba including Heredia, Coronado, and some parts of the capital city of San José.

For a 24-hour period, from Saturday around 10 a.m. until yesterday morning, Turrialba was in a near constant state of low grade tremors and light emissions of gas and ash. These light tremors were punctuated by several stronger eruptions that sent up rocks as well as ash.

Another eruption yesterday at 2:20 p.m. was estimated to have sent up a 400 meter column of ash that was dispersed in the same areas.

Light reports of sulfur odors and ash were reported in different parts of Heredia as well as eastern San José.

The most recent eruption in this latest week of activity took place early this morning with a nearly 1,000 meter high eruption of ash at close to 3:00 a.m., reported Ovsicori. Residents throughout most of the greater San José metropolitan area woke up to a dusting of ash this morning as a result.

The Turrialba Volcano, located within the national park by the same name, which is currently closed due to the eruptions, sits at 3,340 m (10,958 ft) above sea level at the southeastern end of Costa Rica’s Central Volcanic Corridor.