COTOPAXI: SERIOUS THREAT OF ERUPTION

ECUADOR - In Brief 15 Aug 2015 by Magdalena Barreiro

---

Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world and located close to largely populated areas including Quito, had three important explosions last Friday and the government has raised the alert from yellow to orange. The government has also issued a decree declaring an "state of exception" which includes the prohibition for public protests and unauthorized gathering, the intervention of the armed forces to maintain order (if necessary), press and TV censorship concerning news on the development of the eruption, and in general, limitations to certain civil rights if the situation so requires. President Correa has also issued a decree authorizing the Ministry of Finance the use of whatever funds are necessary "except those allocated to the health and education sectors" if the emergency calls for. We all hope that the volcano behaves in a similar way as the Tungurahua which has had several minor explosions over the last 10 years without a major eruption since such a natural catastrophe would seriously affect the already compromised Ecuadorean economy. We also hope that if the situation does not escalate, the Government releases the state of exception that otherwise will be the perfect alibi to contain the social unrest of the last months.