‘Throat of fire’ volcano signalling imminent, devastating COLLAPSE

Scientists are warning that the Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador is showing early signs of impending catastrophic collapse, after satellite data showed substantial internal damage from ongoing magma activity.

Tungurahua, has been persistently active since 1999 so wear and tear was inevitable, especially given that the ‘Throat of fire,’ or ‘Black giant’ as the Quechua indigenous people named it, has already collapsed twice before thousands of years ago. 

Tungurahua erupting on November 2nd, 1999. © US Geological Survey

“Using satellite data we have observed very rapid deformation of Tungurahua’s west flank, which our research suggests is caused by imbalances between magma being supplied and magma being erupted,” says geophysical volcanologist James Hickey from the University of Exeter in the UK, whose worrying research was recently published. 

Tungurahua previously collapsed at the end of the Late Pleistocene, after which it then rebuilt itself for thousands of years, before collapsing again about 3,000 years ago. 

Such collapses can trigger massive landslides and pyroclastic flows, which can travel for tens of kilometers. For example, the collapse 3,000 years ago is thought to have laid waste to an area of roughly 80km sq (11,000 football fields). 

Meanwhile, an eruption in 1999 forced the evacuation of some 25,000 people, so the impact on human life in the area should the volcano collapse again would be truly staggering.

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The team admits, however, that magma supply is just one of many risk factors which should be closely monitored to mitigate risk and protect life in the area. 

“Magma supply is one of a number of factors that can cause or contribute to volcanic flank instability, so while there is a risk of possible flank collapse, the uncertainty of these natural systems also means it could remain stable,” Hickey says.

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Source: https://www.rt.com/news/481180-ecuador-volcano-imminent-collapse-danger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
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Ecuador govt agrees to repeal austerity law that sparked protests as indigenous groups pledge to stop rallies

Ecuadorian government agreed to terminate Executive Decree 883 that canceled fuel subsidies and prompted protests throughout the county for 11 days. Indigenous groups that led the rallies consented to stopping the mobilization.

The negotiations brokered by UN started as the country’s capital Quito started to remind more of a war zone after protests and clashes with police. President Lenin Moreno even left the capital for a short while moving the government as protesters ransacked administrative buildings.

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The parties agreed to create a commission to develop a new decree repealing the one that caused the discontent. 

President Moreno said that the agreement included “sacrifices from each of the parties.” 

Una solución para la paz y para el país: el Gobierno sustituirá el decreto 883 por uno nuevo que contenga mecanismos para focalizar los recursos en quienes más los necesitan. ¡Se recobra la paz y se detienen el golpe correísta y la impunidad! #DialogarEsElCaminoEC pic.twitter.com/QfeUJpUcMk

— Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) October 14, 2019

The president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), Jaime Vargas, said that anti-government mobilizations would be lifted throughout the territory. Yet he criticized the police and the military for their actions against the demonstrators calling them “violation of human rights” and called for the removal of the Ministers of Interior and Defense. He claimed that  more than 10 people were killed and some 2000 injured during the riots. 

Private secretary of the President, Juan Sebastián Roldán, defended the work of the law enforcers saying they had done their duty and “are celebrating tranquility today.”

There was an influx of protesters from all over the country coming to Quito when the government announced a set of sweeping austerity policies, introduced as part of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan package. Most of all people were angry at the decree cancelling fuel subsidies that saw the prices skyrocket.

Over eleven days riots rocked the capital with protesters making barricades, burning tires and storming government buildings occasionally. Law enforcers used tear gas, military equipment and even mounted officers to push back the protesters. Curfew was introduced several times. 

Seven people have been killed and over 1,300 wounded since the protests broke out on October 3, according to public ombudsman’s office. The police have arrested over 1,150 demonstrators.

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Source: https://www.rt.com/news/470872-ecuador-protests-groups-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
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Chaos in Ecuador as protesters ransack govt buildings, clash with police as military restricts movement throughout country

After another day of unrest in Ecuador’s capital Quito, which saw protesters blocking roads and breaking into government buildings, President Lenin Moreno agreed to assess the controversial cancellation of fuel subsidies.

Due to “the complexity of the situation,” Moreno will take another look at Decree 883, which has enraged citizens, Quito Mayor Jorge Yunda Machado announced on Twitter.

The move was one of the austerity measures introduced by the government in order to meet the conditions of a $4.2 billion loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Moreno later said that he would assess the impact of the cuts, but didn’t indicate whether he was planning to repeal it.

The president also offered to begin talks with protest leaders to settle the crisis, and they have accepted his invitation.

One of the conditions was that the talks be held in public and be broadcast live. “We’re not going to talk behind closed doors. It has to be with the Ecuadorian people,” one of the protest leaders said.

©  Reuters / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Besides proposing dialogue, however, Moreno has also announced that he’s introducing a curfew and the “militarization” of Quito, starting at 8pm GMT. “This will facilitate the use of public force in the face of intolerable excess of violence,” he said on Twitter. Ecuador’s armed forces also announced late on Saturday that movement around the country would be restricted for 24 hours.

Camiones de las Fuerzas Armadas de Ecuador casi atropellan a un grupo de manifestantes en Quito, en otra jornada de disturbios y enfrentamientos pic.twitter.com/ETZqDSBG5f

— RT en Español (@ActualidadRT) October 12, 2019

Footage from Quito on Saturday resembled a war zone, with barricades, fires and plumes of tear gas fired by the police at the raging crowds. 

©  Reuters / Ivan Alvarado

Live feed by RT’s video agency Ruptly showed thick smoke in the air and crowds of people rioting, as sounds of explosions rocked the streets.

Chaotic scenes come in from #Ecuador’s #Quito, where protesters took to streets en masse over President Lenín #Moreno’s unpopular austerity policies

MORE: https://t.co/WybcFX7hax pic.twitter.com/IHLP8zZ83I

— RT (@RT_com) October 12, 2019

The protesters, mainly represented by Ecuador’s indigenous people, set the Comptroller General’s Office on fire and ravaged the parliament building, breaking windows and throwing furniture into the street. The demonstrators also blocked all roads leading to Quito International Airport.

©  Reuters / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

The administrative buildings taken over by the protesters were empty, as Moreno had already moved the government to the city of Guayaquil, located 250km southwest of Quito.

©  Reuters / Henry Romero

It was the capital’s 10th straight day of unrest, which broke out after the government announced austerity measures. The suspension of fuel subsidies saw the price of gasoline spike from $1.85 to $2.39 per gallon, while diesel prices went up by a staggering 123 percent – from $1.03 to $2.29. 

©  Reuters / Ivan Alvarado

Five people have been killed and over 1,000 wounded in clashes since October 3, according to government data. The police have arrested over 1,100 demonstrators.

©  Reuters / Carlos Garcia Rawlins

Moreno was previously reluctant to reconsider the harsh measures, and blamed former president, Rafael Correa, and his Venezuelan ally Nicolas Maduro, of masterminding the demonstrations.

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