The Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, 1991

Group 2, STEM A

Facts about the Mt. Pinatubo before the

eruption– It was considered as a Mountain by the natives and not as a Volcano, until a group of scientists proved that it was a Active Dormant Volcano.– Before the eruption happen, the natives already warned the local officials about the abnormal things that are happening around the Mt. Pinatubo, but the Local officials neglected their warning.– The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo was

considered as the 2nd most devastating volcanic eruption of the 20th century.

What caused the disaster ?

• A Magnitude of 7.8 Earthquake struck 60 miles or 100 Km North East of Mt. Pinatubo, because of the earthquakes and landslides, it increased the steam emission from a pre-existing Geothermal area.

• Thousand tons of noxious sulfur dioxide gas were also emitted by the volcano

When & Where, exactly did the natural event originate?

• From June 7 – 12 ,1991, the first magma reached the surface of Mt. Pinatubo.

• However on June 12, 1991, millions of cubic yards of gas charged magma reached the surface and exploded, in the re-awakening of the volcano’s first spectacular explosion.

• On June 15, 1991, the volcano exploded in cataclysmic eruption, that caused the ejection of more than a 1 mile material.

• The Natural event originated in Central Luzon, in which is the most affected of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

How extensive was the area affected?

• Agriculture was heavily disrupted with 800 squared km. of rice growing farmland destroyed, and almost 800 thousand head of livestock killed, destroying the livelihood of thousands of farmers.

• Many re-forestation projects were destroyed in the eruption, with the total area of 150 squared km. , valued at ₱ 125,000,000.

• The eruption also affect the local economy and social aspects of the region, in total 364 communities and 2.1 million of people were affected with livelihoods and houses being damaged, more that 8 thousand houses were completely devasted .

Was the cause of the disaster forecasted or predicted? Were there warnings

issued? How did the people react to the warning?

• Indeed, the cause of why volcano erupt is unpredictable.

• Even so, scientists specifically have learned to read the many signs of volcanoes give off prior to an eruption, to minimize its effects.

• Different behaviors have showed by people when they were warned to what possible effects of Mt. Pinatubo eruption they may get.

How many lives were lost? How many were injured & missing? Can

the lost of lives be quantified in terms of Peso (₱) or Dollar ($)?

• There were 900 total casualties on the said event.

• No money can’t compensate the lost of lives in this Volcanic Eruption

• There were 2.1 million estimated victims

What could have prevented the lost of many lives?

• Capability of the Government to detect those massive volcano eruptions, and warned as before it occur.

• Programs to educate, those people living near the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo

• Relocation of citizens living nearby the danger 50 km danger zone.

• Coordinate or get some support from neighboring countries that have the capacity to detect such catastrophic behavior.

What was the resulting damage, as a percent of GNP for the year the

disaster happened

• According to the Asian Development Bank

The GNP for the year 1991 is expected to drop at 1.1 % from 3.7 % in year 1990 due to the combined effects of the 1990 Luzon Earthquake and 1991 Mt. Pinatubo Eruption in the economy .

Did the disaster affect the performance of the country’s

economy years after it happened? How?

• The eruption of Mt. Pinatubo 1991, greatly affect the sector of economy .

• Together they caused widespread general devastation on agriculture, industry and commerce, infrastructure and private property.

• Damage and Loses due to the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Agriculture Million US Dollar

A. Damage to Agricultural Production $ 229.7

1.) Crops (Rice , Fruit, Trees, etc…) $44.7

2.) Livestocks $ 2.4

3.) Poultry $ 2.4

4.) Fishery $ 2.3

5.) Forestry $ 177.9

B. Foregone Revenue in Agricultural $179.6

C. Damage to the Facilities of the Dept. of Agriculture

$ 4.6

D. Damage to Irrigation Facilities $ 10.6

• Damage and Loses due to the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Industry Million US Dollar

1.) Agri- Based country $ 6.9

2.) Others $ 8.4

Infrastructure Million US Dollar

1.) Roads, Highway, and Bridges $ 25.6

2.) Water Distribution Network $ 4.5

3.) Schools $ 34.8

4.) Hospitals $ 1.6

• Damage Due to the Disasters of 1990- 1991

SectorDamage by the

1990 earthquakeDamage by the

1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Total Damage Million US $

Agriculture 57.0 424.5 481.5

Private Property 158.2 205.1 363.3

Infrastructure 273.8 66.5 340.3

Industry and Commerce

148.0 15.3 163.3

Total: 637.0 711.4 1, 348.4

How much did the country spend for rescue, relief, and rehabilitation works?

The costs of caring for evacuees (including construction of evacuation camps and relocation centers) was at least 2.5 billion pesos ($US 93 million) in 1991-92An additional 4.2 billion pesos ($US 154 million) was spent during the same period on dikes and dams to control lahars.

What particular loss or damage cannot be recovered or repaired?

•Lives• Geographical Image of the place

How justified are pre-disaster measures and expenditures?

• The Government implemented accurate pre-disaster measures and expenditures enough to warn people living near the Mt. Pinatubo.

• The FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency ) presents 4 phases of disaster management.

BY NICA , LHOYD , OTTO AND LAGUISMA

Volcano Experiment

DO’S AND DON'TS BEFORE , DURING AND AFTERVOLCANIC ERUPTION