Nevado Del Ruiz 1985

Question 1

7 Impacts

Answer 1

4 thick lahars from melted ice
Tolima and Armero destroyed where 1/4 of 28,700 residents survived
Total 23,000 killed and 5,000 injured
5,000 homes destroyed
3400 Ha of agricultural, 50 schools and 58 industries destroyed
$7.7bn in damage
50% reduction in regional economic activity

Question 2

5 Responses and management

Answer 2

Authorities didn’t enact preventatives without clear eruption date
Volcano cut electricity preventing early warning
No radios due to low development so communication impossible
Lahars made roads impassable slowing relief
Survivors spread over rural area making rescue difficult