The Nevado del Ruiz eruption!!! By:- Rachel Sloan 10AA!

Nevado del Ruiz!

Why did Nevado del Ruiz erupt?! On 13 th November 1985, 20,000 people were feared dead after Nevado del Ruiz, a long dormant volcano which stands at 18,000 ft, in the Andes in Western Columbia erupted. Causing mud and water to flood the town of Armero. Dismembered bodies floated in the floodwater stained with sulphur. Armero was hard to reach for rescuers after taking 12 hours to get through. Columbia’s civil defence unit (C.D.U) later confimed that 7 villages had also been destroyed!

Armero’s population of 28,000 were devastated before dawn. The death toll reached the highest since in Martinique in The eruption caused an ice pack and snow to melt on the peak. 2 hours later, this sparked an avalanche. 85% of Armero was swept away by mud rocks and water. The volcano had blown smoke 26,000 feet into the air, causing some aircrafts’ visibility to drop and land in another city.

What Devastation Was Caused By The Eruption?! Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world!! Following the mudslide, many people were trapped in mud, water and debris that was left behind. Thousands later died! When the Ruiz erupted, there was not a team of mobile volcanologists that could rush to this emergency! The mud which travelled at 80km per hour, covered Armero to the height of 8 METRES!

Following the mudslide many people were trapped in the mud, water and debris that was left behind. Thousands later died!! Because of the ash deposited by the volcano, the soil around the Armero region is very fertile. Following the 1985 eruption the VOLCANO DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VDAP)was set up! It aims to reduce the number of fatalities caused by volcanic eruptions in developing countries and limiting the economic loss.

The problem is, that tragedy which should have been avoided or predicted, because the volcano was active since one year. The authorities did not want to panic the people living in this area and studies have already been done, in October 1985, geologists published a hazard map of the area, 100% of probability that Amero will be on the way of mudflows. The government did not want to alarm the populations. The geologists who visited the volcano 2 days before did not recommend an evacuation. But 23,000 people died.

Pictures of the Ruiz and it’s damage!

I hope you enjoyed my PowerPoint!! Rachel 10aa.

Mr Manson says... I did actually! Some good work and information and presentation rachel A2