The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) has announced that the Nevado del Ruiz volcano could erupt in the next few days or weeks.
The Nevado del Ruiz erupted most seriously on Nov. 13, 1985 when it trigerred an avalanche of mud and stones that engulfed the city of Armero, killing more than 25,000 of its inhabitants.
Armero is situated to the east of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano which until 1984 was known as Sleeping Lion.
Only a quarter of Armero's population survived.
About Nevado del Ruiz
Nevado del Ruiz is located about 80 miles (130 km) west of Bogotá, capital of Colombia. It is a part of the Andes Mountains and situated in the central part of Colombia.
It is part of the larger circum-Pacific volcanic chain that commonly is called the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire is a belt of intense seismic activity that encircles the Pacific Ocean, from New Zealand to Russia in the west and from Chile to the US state of Alaska in the east.
The Ring of Fire is a belt which remains volcanically active and is subject to devastating earthquakes.
Key Takeaways
- On 13 November 1985, Nevado del Ruiz volcano in western Colombia , South America erupted and killed more than 25,000 of the inhabitants of the town of Armero.