Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction E.

Flood and Lahar from ice and snow

Volcanic Hazards meltwater or damming of tributaries
A. Lava Flow-product of quiet effusion of
molten rock (magma) from beneath a Mitigation:
volcano STAY AWAY from lava danger zones
700-1200oC Diversion of lava flow thru explosives and
100,000 x as viscous as water barriers
Travels very slowly (< several km/hr) B. Pyroclastic Flow- Hot mixtures of fresh
lava, gas, rock, pumice, and ash that move
down the sides of a volcanic crater at high
speeds during an eruption.
Merapi Pelean

Lava Effusion vs Explosive Eruption

Gas content determines if it will be an
explosive eruption Soufriere
As magma rises to the surface where pressure Effects:
is less, gases in magma expand. Too much Burn(~1000oC)
gas gives magma their explosive character Impact and burial- due to its speed (>80km/hr),
because of the sudden and tremendous mass and volume it will knock down, shatter,
expansion of gas volume bury, or carry away nearly all objects and
Explosive eruption -> creates fragments structures in its path.
(tephra) Inhalation of hot ash and gases
Quiet Eruption -> creates lava Lahar and flooding
Amount of Gas = Viscosity Mitigation: Almost impossible except for
Effects: AVOIDANCE
Bury, crush and burn everything. C. Tephra Fall
Deaths attributed to lava flow are often due to Tephra-Volcanic rocks and lava materials
related causes: ejected into the air by explosion or carried
A. Explosive shower of molten spatter when upward by eruption column’s hot gases or lava
lava interacts with water fountains which go directly to the ground
B. Explosion of methane gas produced by lava Classification according to size:
burial of vegetation Ash (<2mm)
C. Asphyxiation due to toxic gases Lapilli (2-64 mm in diameter)
D. Pyroclastic flow from a collapsing dome of Bombs and Blocks (>64 mm)
thick viscous lava flows *Bombs- fresh from magma, smooth
*Blocks- chips of the walls of volcanic vent, b. Direct impact of the flow and debris such as
rough or sharp logs
Effects: c. Anything along the path is crushed, blown
a. Airborne fine particles can cause away or buried.
conjunctivitis and corneal abrasion, E.g Cagsawa church in Daraga, Albay
asphyxiation, and silicosis (scarring of
lungs) for prolonged exposure and Mitigation:
inhalation. Evacuation
b. Roof collapse and ash falls from roofs Effective dissemination of lahar hazard
damage critical facilities information and good monitoring and warning
c. Ash clogs filters and vents of motors , system
machineries, and nuclear power plants; Mayon and Pinatubo- flow sensors(using
clog filters of vehicles (jet engines) tripwire and seismic signals ) along lahar
d. Reduce visibility to zero and block sunlight channels and monitoring rainfall intensity and
e. It can contain toxic gases, acids, salts, and duration.
chemicals that can be absorbed by plants Retention basins, alternate channels, tunnels,
and water bodies. and concrete structures like dams across the
f. Low permeability of hardened ash deposits river channel and dikes parallel to the channel
leads to increased run-off, accelerated
erosion and floods Signs of Volcanic Eruption
Mitigation: 1. Ground deformation- refers to surface
Evacuation changes on a volcano, such as subsidence
Personal protective measures (sinking), tilting, or bulge formation, due to the
Design filters for machineries movement of magma below the surface.
Protection of public utilities Tools: Precise engineering methods of
D. Lahar surveying using the instrument Electronic
Process wherein wet cement-like mixture of Distance Meter (EDM) to
volcanic material and water flows down the measure accurately millimeter changes on
slopes of a volcano. ground (if the slope for the volcano swells)
Javanese word for “lava” Deformation on ground is also measured using
How lahars are generated? data of repeated measurements from
Intense rainfall during eruption permanent
Rainwater can easily erode loose volcanic Global Positioning System (GPS) installed
materials deposited on the upper slope of a around the volcano.
volcano or along the path of a river on its way • Use of Remote sensing images also help
down the slope compare before and after features.
Eruption alone can trigger lahars by directly 2. Geochemistry
melting snow and icecap. Tools: thermometer , thermocouple, pH meter
Effects: What to observe?
Large volume of materials and speed (70 • Changes in temperature
km/hr) • Water becomes more acidic
A hot lahar can be as hot as 100oC What to observe?
a. Serious economic and environmental Some gas, for example SO2 from base
damage to large floodplain areas and those level of 100 tons/day jump to 4,000 tons/day s
affected by severed lifelines. can be an indication of unrest
3. Seismic activity developing new residential areas, commercial/
Tool: Seismometer business areas, siting for critical facilities etc.
What to observe?
Increase in number of volcanic 2. Be aware of the kinds of volcanic hazards
earthquakes recorded present in your area.

3. Be aware of the meanings of Alert Levels,

4. Observation: and recommended actions. Make sure your
Intensified steaming activity family emergency plan has taken this into
• Drying up of vegetation, drying up of consideration.
streams, water wells
• Crater glow at the summit area  4. Be aware of community efforts such as
• Increasing frequency of rolling rocks from identified evacuation areas as well as
the summit; localized landslides not designated pick up points . Make sure that the
related to heavy rains whole family knows about this.
• Summit area appears to glow or becomes
incandescent at night

Volcano Alert Level

define the current status of each volcano.
range from 0 to 5.
guide any appropriate response from the
LGUs.

Permanent Danger Zone

no permanent habitation is recommended
For Mayon Volcano, 6-kilometer radius from
the summit
As soon as Alert Level is raised from 0 to 1, it
is recommended that people should not
venture within this area at any time.
Hazard Map-illustrate potential for ground-
based volcanic impacts—lava flows, During
pyroclastic flows, ashfall, volcanic gases, and 1. Stay inside the house or evacuation area.
more far-reaching hazards (such as lahars) in 2. Listen to the radio for advice and
valleys that drain the volcano information.
3. If you are outside and very near the
Safety precautionary measures: volcano, leave the area immediately. If
caught in ashfall or tephra fall, seek shelter
BEFORE! immediately. Sometimes, pieces of rocks may
1. For longer-term development planning, be hot, seek care for burns right away.
consult available volcano hazard maps that 4. Do not drive.
indicate areas declared as permanent danger If you must drive, keep the car windows up and
zones (PDZs) and areas likely to be affected do not operate the air conditioning system as
by different volcanic hazards so that these this will bring in ash from outside.
areas are avoided when choosing sites for
Drive slowly as ashfall will reduce visibility. Ash
on road surface can cause the roads to
become slippery.
7. Protect yourself from ashfall.
I. Close windows and doors
II. Turn off all electric fans and airconditioning
units.
III. Wear dust-mask or cover your face with
clean wet towel or cloth
IV. Better to use bottled water. If you must use
tap water, always boil water first before using
After
1. Listen to the latest update about Alert
Levels.
2. Cook food thoroughly.
3. If the family has evacuated during the
eruption, only the adult members of the family
should be allowed to go home to inspect the
house condition.
4. Only when local authorities have declared
that it is safe to go home that the family should
return.
 5. How to clean up an ashfall?
I. As soon as the ashfall has stopped, remove
the ash immediately.
II. Wear dust mask before you start cleaning.
III. The recommended method to clean the ash
is to lightly damp the ash so that it does not
cloud when swept.
IV. Clean house roofs first, to prevent damage
to gutters and down-pipes.
V. Do not dump ash in sewage systems.
VI. Inside the house, use damp cloth to remove
ash. Avoid vigorous rubbing as ash particles
are very abrasive.
VII. To remove ash from your car, wash with
plenty of water.

 
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