Indigenous Colombians Maintain Resilience Amid Volcano Eruption Risk

PUCARE, Colombia — Residents near the Purace volcano in southwestern Colombia are facing the risk of an imminent eruption, but many remain undeterred. Following a warning issued on November 29, 2023, indicating increased seismic activity and ash emissions reaching heights of 900 meters (nearly 3,000 feet), the community, particularly the Coconuco Indigenous people, is preparing for potential evacuations while holding onto deep cultural ties to their land.

Oliverio Quira, a 65-year-old member of the Purace Indigenous Reserve, tends to his cattle on land less than a mile from the volcano. The sight of ash billowing from the crater is a familiar one for him. “I’ve lived on the volcano, I grew up there … so I have no reason to fear it,” he stated. His commitment to caring for his animals remains steadfast despite the looming threat.

The alert has heightened anxiety within the surrounding community, prompting local authorities to prepare for the possible evacuation of at least 800 residents living in scattered homes around the volcano. Given that the Purace volcano stands at over 4,640 meters (more than 15,000 feet) above sea level and has a history of 51 recorded eruptions since 1400, the threat is taken seriously. The last significant eruption occurred in 1977, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

Local leaders emphasize the sacred nature of the volcano. “The volcano is our master; we have no reason to fear it,” said Alfredo Manquillo, deputy governor of the Purace Indigenous Reserve. He highlighted the community’s respectful relationship with the volcano, which includes performing rituals that involve offering corn, sweet plants, and a traditional alcoholic drink called guarapo.

For the Coconuco, the volcano serves as a reminder of their connection to nature. “The volcano is saying that we’ve exploited it too much,” Manquillo explained. The community has historically extracted resources like sulfur and engaged in tourism activities, which they believe have led to the volcano’s recent unrest.

Elders within the community, such as Reinaldo Pizo, are working to reassure younger residents who are experiencing the volcano’s activity for the first time. At 75 years old, Pizo recalls the fear of past eruptions during his childhood, where he took shelter under trees or within their thatched homes. He currently resides in a risk zone but expresses that he would only evacuate if there were signs of poisonous gas.

Local authorities, including Mayor Humberto Molano Hoyos, are addressing the logistical challenges of a full evacuation due to the area’s limited infrastructure. Plans are in motion to establish temporary shelters, but the community also requires essential supplies such as water storage tanks and food to support both residents and their livestock.

The sentiment among some community members remains resolute. “If we have to die here, we’ll die here,” Pizo said, reflecting a collective determination to remain on their ancestral land rather than risk starvation elsewhere.

As preparations continue, the Coconuco people balance respect for their sacred volcano with the practicalities of potential evacuation, embodying a profound connection to their land and the natural world around them.