Cotopaxi and Sangay Volcanoes Erupt in Ecuador

On January 26, 2023 at 1:56 p.m. two columns of ash and gases were released from the Cotopaxi and Sangay volcanoes in Ecuador. Located 45 kilometers from Quito, Cotopaxi released a thin column of ash and gases at 4:00 local time which moved southwestward due to local winds. Concurrently, at 7:00 local time, Sangay, located east of the Ecuadorian Andes in Morona Santiago, released a cloud of ash and gases reaching 1,000 meters above its crater at an altitude of 5,286 meters. These volcanoes have been intermittently erupting since March 2019 and October 2022 respectively.

The Cotopaxi, with a crater located at 5,897 meters of altitude, is the second highest peak in Ecuador. Alongside the Cotopaxi and the Sangay, is the Reventador located 60 kilometers away from Quito, which is the third volcano showing current signs of activity, but only Cotopaxi and Reventador have expelled lava.

The Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School issued a report with the details of the eruptions. The redistribution and redistribution of all or part of the contents of the report has been prohibited without the prior consent of the Agencia EFE.