Warden Message
March 22, 2007
The following is a Warden Message issued by the Consulate General of the United States of America in Guayaquil. The following message contains all of the information available. Please share it with the American citizens on your warden list, and any other Americans you know, as soon as possible. It should be disseminated as widely as possible with the American citizen community. Please contact the American Citizen Services section via e-mail (acsguayaquil@state.gov), fax 232-0904, or telephone 232-3570 it you have any questions. Thank you very much for your support and assistance. ***************************************************************
INCREASED ACTIVITY OF REVENTADOR VOLCANO
This is to inform American citizens visiting or resident in Ecuador that the US Embassy in Quito received reports of increased activity at Reventador Volcano, approximately 90 kilometers east of Quito. To date, only increased seismic activity, and limited emissions of ash and gas have been reported. Geologists are monitoring the volcano closely. Reports are available at http://www.igepn.edu.ec/, under "volcanoes". Although geologists do not currently predict a large eruption, volcanic conditions can change rapidly. Reventador Volcano erupted in 2002 after only one day of increased activity. Ash from the eruption affected not just the immediate vicinity of the volcano but also forced the temporary closure in Quito of schools, businesses, the airport, and the U.S. Embassy. American citizens are advised to avoid the area around Reventador Volcano. Because Ecuador is in a region of frequent volcanoes and earthquakes, Americans are advised to keep extra food and water in your homes, and consider purchasing dust masks and heavy gloves to protect hands during ash clean-up. Quito, Otavalo, Tena, Papallata, Chaco, Baeza, Nueva Loja, and Francisco de Orellana are all within this 100 mile radius. Accounts and photos of Reventador’s 2002 eruption can be found at the following links:
http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/current_volcs/reventador/reventador.html; http://www.vulkaner.no/v/volcan/latinam/reventador_e.html Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. Please see the following links for local warden message information in Quito and Guayaquil, respectively, at
http://www.usembassy.org.ec/English/IndexEN.htm and http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/warden_messages.html . The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at the corner of Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria (across from the Casa de la Cultura). The telephone during business hours ( 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 593 2 256 2890 X4561. For after-hours emergencies use (011) 593 2 256 1749. The fax is (011) 593 2 256 1-524. Within the same city use the last seven digits. Add the city code for intercity telephone calls. See also the Embassy web site at http://www.usembassy.org.ec/. The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil is located at the corner of 9 de Octubre and Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel Oro Verde); telephone (011-593-4) 232-3570 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or 232-1152 for after-hours emergencies; fax (011-593-4) 232-0904. See the Consulate General web site at http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/ where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American Citizen Services CONS-ACS Tel (5934) 232-3570 Fax (5934) 232-0904 http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/