Case Study - Mount Merapi
November 2010
Mount Merapi, Indonesia
Causes:
- The eruption came from a composite cone with a VEI of 4
- The volcano is situated at a subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian plate is sliding beneath the Eurasian plate
- The eruption was explosive, with thick andesitic lavas and large pyroclastic flows which caused further damage
- Large clouds of ash filled the sky and then fell on surrounding areas up to 40km away
Impacts:
- 353 deaths (some were killed in the panic of evacuating the area), 500 injured
- 350,000 people successfully evacuated before and during the eruption
- Economic losses = US$0.6 billion
- The rice harvest on the mountain and surrounding area was lost due to the ashfall (social impact)
- Forested areas on the mountain were destroyed by the pyroclastic flows
- Lahar followed the eruption
Pre-eruption:
- Initial monitoring of the mountain before the disaster predicted that an eruption was likely
- Evacuation schemes were put in place for all people within 20km of the volcano
- Many people decided to ignore the warnings. The 'spiritual guardian of the mountain', and his followers, were some of these people left behind
Post-eruption:
- Refugee shelters, of tents and tarpaulins, were set up far enough away from the volcano for those who had evacuated
- Local airports were closed due to the volcanic ash plumes
- Government aid agencies delivered food, water and hygiene kits (including face masks so people didn't inhale too much ash)
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