The eruption

On 13 November 1985, the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano of Colombia, situated in Los Nevados National Park which is located 80 miles west of Bogota, Colombia, erupted. It was due to the Eastward subduction of the Nazca oceanic plate being beneath the South American continental plate. Thus, this were the two main crustal plate movements that were linked together which caused the eruption.

The magnitude 3 volcano, measured on the VEI scale, took away over 23000 peoples' lives and more than 15000 animals' lives. Another 4500 people were seriously injured and approximately 8000 people were anounced homeless.In total, the estimated cost of the disaster was $1,000,000,000, about one out of five of the Colombia's Gross National Products. The town of Amero at the mouth of the Rio Lagunillas canyon had also lost three quarter of its 28,700 inhabitants.

To help the victims of the volcano, the Comlombian government had appealed to the United Nations for help. Unfortunately, due to the fallen bridges and impassable roads, the rescue efforts were hampered.

In my opinion, I think there are a few ways in which to minimize the damage of such events:

Firstly, the government can draw a volcanic map that guides the people living in the particular area near the volcano in choosing where they can build their houses in order to stay further away from  the volcano and yet still have fertile soil to grow crops.

 Secondly, the government can set up a more efficient disaster warning system so that the people living near the volcano will know about the disaster's imminent arrival  and leave for shelter more quickly.

 Lastly, the government can provide more emergency shelters for the people living near the volcano.

Bibliography


Websites:
1.Lyn Topinka, http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Colombia/Ruiz/description_eruption_lahar_1985.html, extracted 24-06-2009


2. BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/13/newsid_2539000/2539731.stm, extracted 13-11-1985


3.Maureen K. Fleury, http://volcanoes.suite101.com/article.cfm /eruption_of_nevado_del_ruiz_1985, extracted 5-03-2009


4. Unkown, http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Nevado.html, (Date of information retrieval not stated)




Book:
1. Andy Koh and Valerie Goh(2009), Earth Our Home, Marshall Cavendish Education, Singapore


Images:
1. http://images.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=nevado%20del%20ruiz&imgurl=http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us/wis/teachers/dtewhey/webquest/nature/images/nevada%2520del%2520Ruiz.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.scarborough.k12.me.us/wis/teachers/dtewhey/webquest/nature/10_largest_volcanoes.htm&usg=__aeq1yTJzWKxmuFlclOmBR0A6DbI=&h=256&w=383&sz=23&hl=en&itbs=1&tbnid=OIzsrqwwj6L2sM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnevado%2Bdel%2Bruiz%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&start=11#tbnid=OIzsrqwwj6L2sM&start=15


2. http://images.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=damage%20caused%20by%20nevado%20del%20ruiz&imgurl=http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Imgs/Jpg/Ruiz/30410135_071_large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://feww.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/mt-ruapehu-eruption-alert/&usg=__ls9e5MVtGqPyOmE-FsaMOMDjZ5k=&h=500&w=800&sz=201&hl=en&itbs=1&tbnid=f_WoUGnLsQAObM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddamage%2Bcaused%2Bby%2Bnevado%2Bdel%2Bruiz%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&sa=X&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&start=3#tbnid=f_WoUGnLsQAObM&start=7


3. http://images.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=damage%20caused%20by%20nevado%20del%20ruiz&imgurl=http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Imgs/Jpg/Ruiz/30410135_071_large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://feww.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/mt-ruapehu-eruption-alert/&usg=__ls9e5MVtGqPyOmE-FsaMOMDjZ5k=&h=500&w=800&sz=201&hl=en&itbs=1&tbnid=f_WoUGnLsQAObM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddamage%2Bcaused%2Bby%2Bnevado%2Bdel%2Bruiz%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&sa=X&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&start=3#tbnid=QhbjTd3-OS1EiM&start=8