Ecuador: Sangay Volcano - Sep 2020

In the early hours of 20 September 2020, the Sangay volcano, located in the central Ecuadorian province of Morona Santiago, registered a significant increase in its level of eruptive activity (NationalGeophysical Institute; Special Report no. 4- 2020)...As the hours passed, the ash cloud began to descend over the provinces of Chimborazo, Bolivar, Guayas, Los Rios and part of Santa Elena. The highest impact was registered on 21 September in the cantons of Alausí, Chunchi, Guamote, Cumandá and Pallatanga in Chimborazo province with the primary impacts on agriculture and livestock, and in Chillanes canton in Bolivar where the community water sources were contaminated (Annex I: map of affected area). The affected population in Chillanes canton is estimated at 18,685 people according to data from the 2010 population census and Chillanes plan of development and territorial organization. In the Guayas province, the Guayaquil cantonal authorities ceased activities at the international airport José Joaquín de Olmedo for approximately two hours to clean the runway. Meanwhile, local authorities in the province of Chimborazo installed the emergency operations centre (EOC) with the support of the National Service for Risk and Emergency Management (SNGRE) and the Ministry of the Environment and Water, to take protection and response measures in the affected areas. At the national level, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock assessed the impact and damages caused by this event...The Ecuadorian Red Cross (ERC) activated its Early Action Plan (EAP) for Forecast-based Triggered Action for volcanic ashfall (MDREC015) on 21 September 2020. The Ecuadorian Red Cross has responded with early actions for 1,000 families in the province of Chimborazo. However, the effects of the volcanic ash have affected other areas such as Bolivar province, which requires humanitarian assistance and has not been reached with the activation of the EAP. In the canton of Chillanes in Bolívar province, the ashfall affected sources of water, agriculture, and livestock. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, at least 12,000 hectares of pasture that feeds 10,000 cattle were affected in Chillanes, with a layer of between 2 and 3 millimetres covering the forage. The damage to 1,000 hectares of tree tomato and blackberry crops influences more than 6,000 producers. Although the maize crop is now in the harvest season, no major losses were reported of the 7,000 hectares planted. (IFRC, 5 Oct 2020)