CASE STUDY-Chaiten Volcano

Question 1

when did the chaiten eruption occur?

Answer 1

may 2008

Question 2

what was the vulnerability of the volcano to people?

Answer 2

small because there is low population density in the area

Question 3

what was the prediction of chaiten prior to the eruption?

Answer 3

very poor, no no real time monitoring of its eruption until a foreign agency, the USGS,
arrived on the 16th of May 2008, a full 15 days after the first eruption

Question 4

how high was the ash cloud/

Answer 4

17km

Question 5

what happened to the people of chaiten and Futaleufu?

Answer 5

evacuated

Question 6

what were the primary impacts of the eruption?

Answer 6

• Chaiten town was covered in ash 15cm deep which had blocked rivers and contaminated water supply
• damage to the airline industry as in the first week five airplanes encountered ash clouds meaning that airports in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay had to close and cancel flights
• 90% of the town damaged and 30% completly destroyed
• one death

Question 7

what were the immediate response?

Answer 7

5000 people had to be evacuated
-the government offered a monthly disaster stipend of $1200 and $2200 per
month per family

Question 8

what was the long term response to the chaiten volcano

Answer 8

chile’s geological survey created a new program to improve monitoring and hazard mitigation at 43 of Chile’s high-threat volcanoes.