The constant activity of Turrialba volcano led to the construction of seven shelters to protect scientists in case of an eruption.
This construction was possible through the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), which followed a model similar to a bunker built on Irazú Volcano. The protected spaces have steel arch beams, thick corrugated sheet steel covers, with a welded structure and protected with anticorrosive paint.
This type of refuges were already built in Poás Volcano, which was reopened in August last year.
In the case of Turrialba, despite the construction of these shelters, the reopening of the national park remains in doubt.
Officials of the National Commission of Emergencies (CNE), OVSICORI, and the National Seismological Network (RSN) indicated that an urgent improvement is still required on the access road to the Turrialba. As well as the purchase of specialized equipment to detect gas toxicity.
Guillermo Alvarado, a volcanologist at the CNE, explained that volcanic eruptions can’t be avoided, but the risk can be minimized and vulnerability reduced.