Mount Pinatubo (V), 1991

Question 1

What made it a disaster?

Answer 1

Ash destroyed 200,000 homes, 350 died from the eruption, 300 of which died from collapsing buildings. 2 million people were affected, total losses - 711.4 million USD
Over 600 died from disease.

Question 2

Park’s model - relief

Answer 2

Relief operations were hindered as many roads became impassable and bridges were destroyed.

Question 3

Park’s model - reconstruction

Answer 3

Many people who fled the city of Angeles have opted against returning home - life in shanty towns is safer than returning to an area where EQs and eruptions are occuring

Question 4

Magnitude

Answer 4

6 VEI

Question 5

Capacity of the population to cope

Answer 5

Developing country - people such as the indigenous Aeta highlanders would not be educated on the risks…

Question 6

Vulnerability (human and economic)

Answer 6

Several thousand farmers had to take refuge in large cities due to destruction of farms and death of thousands of farm animals. Many of whom had no choice but to live in shanty towns.
Diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea spread rapidly. Over 600 died from disease.

Question 7

Duration

Answer 7

9 hours

Question 8

Areal exent

Answer 8

50 cm of ash fell in a 600 km radius.

Question 9

Source - resource title ‘case study 1 - volcanic eruptions - mount Pinatubo.

Answer 9

It references a number of authors - such as Decker D. and Decker B. (1991) - Mountains of Fire, Cambridge University press and websites such as vulcan.wr.usgs.gov and volcano.und.nodak.edu

Question 10

Source - ‘Hazards and responses’ - Victoria Bishop (book)

Answer 10

Written by Victoria Bishop in 2001, reliable as she is a teacher of geology and geography.

Question 11

Park’s model - pre-disaster

Answer 11

People weren’t expecting an eruption - they were not really prepared.
There was round-the-clock volcano monitoring and pro-active evacuation plans.