A series of tremors with a magnitude of up to 4.1, recorded in the area of the Nicaraguan volcano Masaya on Tuesday, February 10, caused panic among the population. People are afraid of an eruption, and it must be said that their fears are well founded. According to the representative of the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Research, the seismic activity of the giant has doubled in recent days.
If under normal conditions the amplitude level signals (MRS) in the Masaya area fluctuate between 150 and 620 units, today this value has exceeded 1000 units. Measuring the MRS in real time indicates the overall activity of the volcanoes and is one of the most important tools for volcanologists to assess a possible eruption.
Over the past 24 hours, 2 more earthquakes were recorded at the summit, associated with the movement of magma in the caldera. The first occurred on February 10 at 18:43 local time and had a magnitude of 3.2. The second magnitude 1.2 shook the giant's flanks near the Santiago crater on the same day at 22:17.
Masaya is known as one of the most active in Latin America. Its activity began to increase in December 2015. Then a lava lake appeared in the crater of the summit, the level of which has increased significantly in recent days. The Masaya National Park is currently closed to the public. The National Disaster Prevention System (SINAPRED) does not rule out that the volcano could erupt at any time.