UNDRO 86/0011
COLOMBIA - VOLCANIC ERUPTION
UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
5 JANUARY 1986

1. SCIENTIFIC TEAM OF VOLCANOLOGISTS IN MANIZALES, US GEOLOGICAL SERVICE AND COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES REPORT NEW ERUPTION OF NEVADO DEL RUIZ VOLCANO. SEISMOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTS INSTALLED ON VOLCANO DETECTED ABNORMAL EARTHQUAKES BEGINNING AT 11.15 HRS LOCAL TIME ON 3 JANUARY AND INTENSIFIED GREATLY AT 23.30 HRS SAME DAY. BEGINNING OF ERUPTION EARLY HOURS 4 JANUARY WITH ASHFALL ON CITY OF MANIZALES, 30 KMS FROM CRATER, AT 03.30 HRS. CONTINUOUS EMISSION OF ASH COLUMN APPROX. 1 KM HIGH VISIBLE FROM FIRST LIGHT.

2. THERE IS HIGH RISK OF VOLCANO'S ICECAP MELTING AND TRIGGERING MUDFLOWS LIKE THE ONE WHICH KILLED 23,000 PEOPLE ON 13 NOVEMBER 1985.

3. COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES AND CIVIL DEFENCE ORDERED IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF POPULATION AT RISK IN LOW LYING AREAS AROUND VOLCANO. AFFECTED TOWNS IN MAIN VALLEYS SUBJECT TO MUDFLOWS ARE MARIQUITA, HONDA, GUAYABAL, AMBALEMA AND CHINCHINA WITH TOTAL POPULATION IN ORDER OF 50,000.

4. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INDICATE EMERGENCY WILL REMAIN IN FORCE AT LEAST UNTIL NOON 5 JANUARY.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

(DPR 310 COL'86(1) - SMS/EN)

UNDRO 86/0030

COLOMBIA - VOLCANIC ERUPTION
UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 2
07 JANUARY 1986

UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT COORDINATOR HAS REPORTED ON LATEST SITUATION PREVALENT IN REGION AT RISK IN CONNECTION NEW ACTIVITY RUIZ VOLCANO.

1. FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE SCIENTIFIC TEAM MONITORING THE ACTIVITY THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED THE CONTINUATION OF THE STATE OF ALERT DECLARED ON SATURDAY FOR A FURTHER 48 HOURS FROM 6 JANUARY.

2. SEISMIC ACTIVITY AND ASH DISCHARGE PERSISTS ALTHOUGH SLIGHTY DIMINISHED IN INTENSITY. THE ICECAP AND SURROUNDING SNOW AREA, ALTHOUGH COVERED BY ASHES, IS NOT MELTING. HOWEVER HEAVY RAIN CAUSED SLIGHT OVERFLOWING OF GUALI RIVER.

3. BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF GLACIERS CRACKING, SPECIAL MONITORING EQUIPMENT IS PRESENTLY BEING INSTALLED BY JAPANESE AND U.S. VOLCANOLOGISTS.

4. AROUND 8,000 EVACUEES FROM LOW LYING AREAS ALONG RIVER BANKS AND THE TOWNS OF MARIQUITA, HONDA, AMBALEMA, GUAYABAL, MURILLO AND CHINCHINA WHO ARE CONSIDERED AT RISK ARE BEING HOUSED IN CAMPS INSTALLED ON HIGH SAFE GROUND UNDER CIVIL DEFENSE AND MILITARY SUPERVISION.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

(DPR 310 COL'85(1) - BL/MG)