Jorge Armando Andrade, the mayor of Puracé, has requested that the Colombian government declare a state of emergency following increased volcanic activity [1].
The request comes as the volcano threatens the health and livelihoods of thousands of residents by contaminating essential water sources and blanketing the region in ash.
The Servicio Geológico Colombiano placed the volcano under an orange alert in June 2026 [3]. Officials said the alert is due to an increase in seismic activity, ash emissions, and high concentrations of carbon and sulfur dioxide [3].
Mayor Andrade said more than 18,000 families are facing impacts from the emergency [1]. Other reports indicate that approximately 20,000 families have been affected and are receiving potable water from the local administration [2].
The current crisis follows a period of instability that began last year. A visible eruption of ash occurred on Dec. 13, 2025 [4], and hundreds of residents were preventively evacuated from the surrounding area during that time [5].
Local indigenous residents have expressed resilience in the face of the geological threats. Oliverio Quira, a local indigenous man, said, "No le tenemos miedo" — "We are not afraid" [6].
Despite this local resolve, the municipal government said the scale of the contamination requires national intervention. The ash fall has disrupted agricultural productivity, and compromised the safety of drinking water for the population in the Cauca department [2].
“"More than 18,000 families face impacts from the emergency."”
The request for a national emergency declaration indicates that the municipal resources of Puracé are insufficient to handle the long-term effects of the volcanic activity. Because the orange alert involves not only ash but also toxic gas emissions and water contamination, the crisis has shifted from a geological event to a public health emergency affecting the region's primary water and food security.
