Volcanoes

Chaitén, Chile

By: Jeannie Rabat

Chaiten is a small volcano located on the flank of the Michinmavida volcano in southern Chile. Before 2008, the last Rhyolitic lava dome last active 9,400 years ago.

But on Friday 2nd May 2008, Chaitén began erupting violently, producing numerous plumes, pyroclastic flows and lahars and building a new lava dome on the north side of the old one.

The eruption was caused by the subduction of the Nazca plate under South American tectonic plate. When oceanic crust collides with continental crust, continental crust being less dense will usually ride up over the oceanic crust.

What causes Chaitén volcano to erupt?

Smaller communities to the southeast such as Chubut and Rio Negro also received heavy ash falls. The ash plume was so thick in some parts of Argentina that schools, highways and airports were forced to close.

The town of Chaitén, located about 10 kilometres southwest of the eruption site, was blanketed with ash.

Consequences

Management

-Residents were told not to drink the water

-Chilean officials distributed face masks and fresh water

-The Chilean government ordered a 50km exclusion around the town

The area of Chaiten is sparsely populated, but 5000 people had to be evacuated from nearby towns and Chilean government ordered the complete evacuation of the town and is planning to relocate the town entirely.

.20-30% of the forest being completely

destroyed and there was extensive damage to the airport and marine facilities.

Beginning on May 12, lahars caused flooding in the town of Chaitén, depositing ash mud and damaging many buildings.

The major impact was on farming, and many farm animals were killed by suffocating on the

ash.

.

Between 80-90% of the town of Chaitén reported damaged.

What was done after the volcano?

The Government of Chile announced that Chaiten town will eventually be relocated from its present position 9 km SSW of Chaiten volcano.

Generators were used to provide electricity in individual homes and firewood was available.

These people was denied even the most basic services such as electricity, running water, fuel, hospital facilities, administrative and postal services.

The government issued a monthly disaster stipend of $1200 and $2200 per month per family.

The End

Thank- you