Nevado Del Ruiz, Columbia eruption

Question 1

date of eruption

Answer 1

13th November 1985

Question 2

physical causes of eruption

Answer 2

Nazca plate subducted under South American plate

Question 3

human problems making issues worse

Answer 3

local people were unprepared as although warnings were in place, people didn’t recieve them/misunderstood them

Question 4

social impacts

Answer 4

• lahars that hit town Armero killed 3/4 of inhabitants
• 400 homes destroyed in Chinchina
• hundreds died from infectious disease e.g. yellow fever caused by mud getting into wounds

Question 5

economic impacts

Answer 5

• 3400ha agricultural land lost
• all roads, communications and supplies destroyed within affected area
• cost Columbian economy $7.7 billion

Question 6

environmental impacts

Answer 6

• pyrclaustic flows caused melting of snow/ice=water swept down canyons
• flood water picked up debris/soil
• clean water in short supply

Question 7

short term responses

Answer 7

• Columbian Red Cross and Civil Defence Personnel organised rescue and medical care
• Columbian military provided helicopter airlift for those needing medical care, distributing supplies and shelter facilities set up
• efforts made from >30 foreign countries

Question 8

long term responses

Answer 8

• established a plan for warning and evacuation of threatened areas (e.g. identified hazard zones)
• 1986 public education campaign
• Red Cross gave out thousands of flyers