Case study of a volcanic eruption

Question 0

Causes

Answer 0

Area lies on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ here there is a lot of volcanic activity.

Question 1

Eruption, size, number of deaths/homeless

Answer 1

Mount Pinatubo, Phillapines, 1991
20 square km of magma ejected
700 deaths
1.2 million homeless

Question 3

Primary effects

Answer 3

• Up to 50cm of ash fell on nearby farmland/villages/towns
• weight of ash cause 200,000 homes/factories/schools to collapse
• 1991 rice crop ruined
• roads/bridges severely damaged

Question 4

Immediate responses

Answer 4

• shanty town type refugee camps set up
• Manila airport closed
• Action Aid/ Oxfam sent disaster relief
• food, drinking water, tents and blankets sent in from other parts of Phillapines
• roads cleared of ash/mud for emergency services

Question 5

Secondary effects

Answer 5

Negative:

• water supplies contaminated
• planting crops was at first impossible
• disease such as diahorrea/chicken pox/malaria spread rapidly in camps
• food shortages

Positive:
-a few years after the eruption land became very fertile due to ash deposits
`

Question 6

Long-term responses

Answer 6

• President Ramos created the mount Pinatubo Commission and raised 10 billion Filipino pesos in aid
• new houses built on stilts to protect from future lahars
• local authorities have tried to encourage investment in the area