On April 2, the Poás volcano, located about 50 kilometers north of San José, the capital of Costa Rica, erupted, affecting the lives of local residents and the growth and yield of crops such as coffee. It also led to the closure of Poás Volcano National Park for two days.

It is understood that Costa Rica is a country with multiple volcanoes, with over 200 volcanoes nationwide, six of which are active. Recently, one of these active volcanoes, Poás, experienced its largest eruption in nearly five years. The ash column reached a height of 600–800 meters above the crater, and volcanic ash spread widely. According to local reports, pilots claimed to have seen ash at an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

Due to a volcanic eruption, a strong smell of sulfuric acid and volcanic ash appeared in the provinces near Poás Volcano. As a result, the National Emergency Commission of Costa Rica issued a warning for nearby counties and municipalities and temporarily closed Poás Volcano National Park.

In addition, due to the impact of El Niño, Costa Rica is currently experiencing a drought period with low rainfall and high temperatures. According to a recent report by the Costa Rican Fire Department, 66 fires have been recorded this year, 21 more than during the same period last year. These fires affected 12,400 hectares of land in Costa Rica, with 1,400 hectares burned. This has caused significant damage to people, animals, and the environment, especially in the province of Guanacaste.

In addition to the impact of drought and high temperatures, multiple fires have also been exacerbated by factors and behaviors such as burning chili peppers, poaching, using fire to clear land, and others. Furthermore, due to Costa Rica’s well-developed tourism industry, campfire activities carried out by many travelers during their visits have also increased the risk of fires.