The eruption of the Fuego volcano on June 3, 2018, caused substantial soul searching, both nationally and internationally. The loss of human life and the destruction of infrastructure and economic production sparked debates and raised questions regarding the capacities available in Guatemala to manage disaster risk and disasters associated with volcanic activity in general and on that day specifically.
... See More + The entire process, from risk knowledge and analysis, to warning and evacuation, to risk reduction and reconstruction, was subject to examination by public institutions, productive sectors, scientific organizations and affected communities. What portion of the damage and human loss were avoidable and what part was almost the ‘natural’ result of this explosive and sudden type of event? The eruption of the Volcano of Fire evidenced needs in knowledge of risk and scientific monitoring, in education and the participation of communities, in the organization and logistics of preparation and response and, more generally, in the processes of territorial adaptation and planning when faced with volcanic processes. The case of the Volcano of Fire is that of an extremely active volcano, with activity cycles and patterns still little understood by experts and with limited historically recorded direct human impacts. The present document provides an analysis of the Fuego volcano disaster applying a Forensic Investigation of Disasters methodology (FORIN), an initiative of the International Council of Science (now International Science Council) (ICSU), and its Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Program (IRDR). This method allows us to focus on the socio-economic, cultural and political root causes of disaster risk and disaster through comparative, longitudinal or contemporary research. This includes contrasting the differentiated impact of similar events in different areas; disasters suffered in the same geographical area but at different points in time; or comparison between countries that have suffered similar events at similar times, but with different underlying conditions and social responses.
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Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions Ltd. (GDG) was requested by The World Bank (TWB) to carry out a study about Volcan de Fuego (Guatemala) after the extraordinary eruption that took place on June 3rd, 2018.
... See More + That eruption lasted about 17 hours and ejected an eruptive column that reached an altitude up to 6 km. Trade winds pulled the finest ashes westwards for more than 40 km. The coarser fraction of the eruptive columns collapsed mainly onto the southeast flank of the volcano where some of the existing gullies vehiculed downstream a high magnitude pyroclastic flow (a high speed turbulent avalanche of hot rock material of different sizes and gas) causing important damages in a golf course residential area, a small urban settlement, a bridge and a road. According to SE-CONRED updated report, 156 people died, 268 disappeared, and 186 houses were destroyed. The Government declared the ‘State of Calamity’ in three departments: Chimaltenango, Escuintla y Sacatepéquez. Congress endorsed the declaration which will allow the Government to use up to US dollar 25 million. The eruption already is Guatemala's deadliest event since 1902, when an eruption of the Santa Maria volcano killed thousands of people. This report is provided under the Addendum 1 to the existing project Landslide Hazard and Risk Study Pilot Study for the Mancomunidad Gran Ciudad del Sur in Guatemala. The scope of the work of the addendum is separate to the scope of work of the original project.
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Natural events are recurrent. Geophysical hazards such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions cannot be predicted, but it is known that where they have happened in the past, they will happen again.
... See More + In the case of hydro-meteorological hazards, frequency and intensity are increased by the action of climate change. Guatemala is located in one of the most hazard prone regions, threatened by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, fires, hurricanes, and floods. Additionally, other hazards such as fires usually affect ancient structures, becoming one of the main hazards to specific cultural heritage assets. However, natural hazards only lead to disasters when its effects negatively affect human life, and the consequences depend on the vulnerability of the assets and population exposed to these hazards. The concept and practice of Disaster Risk Management (DRM), understood as a safe development strategy, has evolved during the last decades from an approach focused almost exclusively on disaster response, towards a broader approach focused on risk understanding, prevention, and reduction, without demeriting the importance of having strong preparation and response systems. However, other priorities generally relegate cultural heritage in the agenda of local and national governments, and disaster risk plans do not include heritage, leaving at risk areas, buildings or other assets of high historical value. In this regard, conducting risk assessments and establishing risk mitigation and emergency preparedness measures is fundamental. In case of emergency the priority is always to save lives, but in a second moment, acting quickly on cultural heritage is essential to preserve legacies that could otherwise be lost forever.
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Volcán de Fuego is considered to be one of Central America's most active volcanoes. It is situated eighteen kilometers south west from Central America's former colonial capital and present main tourist destination of Antigua Guatemala (a UNESCO world heritage site) and forty kilometers south west of Guatemala city.
... See More + It is the most active of Guatemala's thirty-four volcanoes. Following the Volcán de Fuego eruption on June 3, 2018, a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, following the GRADE methodology was undertaken. The objective was to estimate the economic damages caused by the event and understand the spatial distribution of damage to support the process of developing a road-map for reconstruction and recovery. The analysis provides an independent view of the actual degree of damage across the affected area. The key economic impact findings and risk implications are summarized in this report.
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