In August, Cotopaxi started jetting smoke and ash for the first time in 70 years, leading the country to declare a state of emergency, with the possible evacuation of hundreds of thousands.
Here is what it’s like living nearby in Latacunga, which was destroyed in a mudflow in the last major eruption in the 1870s.
“The city just went crazy,” Mauricio says. “We kicked opened our doors and we took what we could and we just ran. We were not prepared with masks or first aid kits. It was mayhem.”
And sadly, it looks like a lot of people have left the area:
“A fifth of the community has left,” claims Mauricio. “Some forever, some temporarily. The little tourism we had is gone because most people come to see or climb Cotopaxi and the national park is closed. And now because people don’t know what’s going to happen, they’re holding on to their money to wait and see what happens. They’re scared.”
Here is some pre-activity before the eruption this summer
I was stationed in Latacunga in 1962 with Peace Corps Ecuador 3. Things were difficult even then especially for the indigenous population.
However, it was always spectacular looking at Cotopoxi. Then again, the locals had a saying “you can’t eat the scenery”
Sorry to hear that people are leaving and tourism has dried up. Thank you for the posting.