International
Colombia prepares for the possible eruption of Nevado del Ruiz
April 3 |
The first preventive evacuation works in the rural area of Villamaría in the department of Caldas, in the northwest of Colombia, began this Monday morning due to the threat of eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano, which resumed its activity in recent days.
The governor of Caldas, Luis Carlos Velásquez, reported that, in the coming days, 40 families from Villamaría will be taken to safe places. “In the area there are 300 homes that are located in the high, middle and low jurisdiction of the volcano,” he specified.
Velásquez explained that this decision was taken in order to avoid the risk that exists in case of an eruption of the volcano.
He also said that 23 educational institutions, located within 10 kilometers (km) around the geological structure, were asked to conduct classes virtually after the Easter break.
The volcano increased its seismic activity in the last days, forcing to declare an orange alert and public calamity in that area to “focus resources and actions”, according to the extraordinary bulletin of the Colombian Geological Service.
John Makario Londoño, director of geohazards, explained that the “orange alert means that the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano is more likely to erupt in the coming days or weeks”.
Velásquez emphasized that this measure is “preventive” and, in that sense, he called not to generate panic and not to share photos of active volcanoes that do not correspond to the situation currently being experienced in the department.
Meanwhile, the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) reminds that, although volcanic activity may vary or decrease, it will not return to the yellow alert level until a “prudential time” of a few weeks has passed, in which “trends and patterns can be observed that allow inferring its possible decrease”.
Likewise, it warns that the level will be raised to red in the event of “an acceleration of the processes that suggest an imminent eruption or that the eruption itself occurs”.
In a meeting held by the authorities of Manizales, capital of the department of Caldas, with the Seismological and Volcanological Observatory of the city, it was agreed that the Official Fire Department of the city will be the entity in charge of providing information in case of an eventual emergency.
Subsequently, the SGC detailed that the seismic activity remains located in the southwestern sector of the volcano and at a distance from the crater between 2.0 and 5.0 kilometers.
Likewise, the Colombian SGC said that there were confirmed ash emissions and degassing due to the movement of fluids inside the volcano, which in 1985 caused the largest natural disaster in Colombia.
“The maximum height of the gas and/or ash column observed yesterday (Sunday) was 1,200 meters measured from the top of the volcano,” the statement notes.
International
Colombian president Gustavo Petro warns against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela
Colombian President Gustavo Petro defended his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro after the U.S. administration labeled him as the leader of the “Cartel of the Suns” and authorized the Pentagon to use military force against drug cartels, which could lead to an intervention on Venezuelan soil to combat these criminal groups. Petro stated that any military operation without the approval of Colombia or Venezuela would represent an “aggression.”
Petro responded over the weekend following reports on Friday from U.S. media about President Donald Trump’s order to confront designated global terrorist organizations such as the Cartel of the Suns, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Tren de Aragua, including operations on foreign soil. Furthermore, the U.S. State Department increased the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture from $25 million to $50 million.
“I publicly convey my order given as commander of the Colombian armed forces. Colombia and Venezuela are one people, one flag, one history. Any military operation without the approval of the brother countries is an aggression against Latin America and the Caribbean. It is fundamentally contradictory to our principle of freedom. ‘Freedom or death,’ Bolívar shouted, and the people revolted,” Petro posted on his social media, clearly expressing his disagreement with potential U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview on The World Over program on Friday that controlling these terrorist groups is decisive. He added that, for the U.S., these gangs are no longer just local street gangs but well-organized criminal enterprises spreading from Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
“We cannot continue treating these guys as local street gangs. They have weapons like terrorists, in some cases they have armies. They control territories in many cases. These cartels extend from Maduro’s regime in Venezuela, which is not a legitimate government,” Rubio told the audience.
International
U.S. offers $5 million reward for arrest of haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier
The United States announced on Tuesday a $5 million reward for the arrest of Haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier, accused of violating U.S. sanctions. Haiti, the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean, is engulfed in a political crisis and a wave of armed gang violence, which an international security mission led by Kenya is trying to end.
Cherizier, 48, and Bazile Richardson have been formally charged with attempting to transfer funds from the United States to Haiti to finance gang activities, the Department of Justice reported.
“There is a good reason to offer a $5 million reward for information leading to Cherizier’s arrest,” said federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro at a press conference.
“He is a gang leader responsible for atrocious human rights violations, including violence against U.S. citizens in Haiti,” she added.
Cherizier has been subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions since 2020 and UN sanctions since 2022.
International
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to meet Guatemalan leader Bernardo Arévalo next friday
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Monday that she will hold her first bilateral meeting with her Guatemalan counterpart, Bernardo Arévalo, next Friday.
During her press conference at the National Palace, Sheinbaum detailed that the August 15 meeting will include a brief visit to Guatemala, followed by a trilateral meeting with Belize’s Prime Minister, Juan Antonio Briceño, in Calakmul, Campeche, in southeastern Mexico.
Sheinbaum explained that the meeting was proposed by Arévalo during a phone call last Friday, in which the Guatemalan president invited her to visit Guatemala.
The agenda will begin on Thursday night when Sheinbaum travels to Chetumal to lead her morning press conference on Friday.
Afterwards, she will travel to Guatemala for the bilateral meeting with Arévalo, then return to Calakmul to meet Belize’s Prime Minister Briceño for a trilateral meeting with Arévalo.
Later, Sheinbaum will hold a bilateral meeting with the Belizean leader.
The president announced that many agreements will be announced during the meetings with the southern border countries but avoided providing details to keep them as a surprise for that day.
Colombian president Gustavo Petro warns against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela
U.S. offers $5 million reward for arrest of haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier
Honduras condemns U.S. reward against Nicolás Maduro as baseless attacks
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
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