Quito, August 5 (RHC-teleSUR) -- High activity levels have been recorded in Ecuador’s Cotopaxi volcano on Tuesday, pressing local officials to call for a national emergency prevention plan.
"The volcano continues with abnormal levels of activity and that leads us to suggest that prevention efforts should be strengthened for the population," said Mario Ruiz, director of the National Polytechnical School.
On Tuesday, the Regional Committee met to discuss the risks of a possible volcano eruption. Prefects, mayors and councilors of the cantons and provinces of locations that could be affected attended the meeting.
The Deputy Mayor of Quito Daniela Chacon said a call was made to upgrade coordination plans from a cantonal and provincial level to a national one in order to involve all state institutions.
"When talking about an emergency that has an implication at the national level, it is essential that the coordination is exercised by all state institutions,” she said.
The Cotopaxi mountain, located 50 kilometres south from the country’s capital, is the second highest active volcano in the world with 5,897 meters. It last erupted in 1877 and 1904, with some activity in 1942. Increasing activity has been detected since 2003, with the highest recorded this year.
Ecuador hosts dozens of active volcanoes like the Tungurahua, Guagua Pichincha and Reventador.
