Volcanic disasters and incidents: A new database

Natural Degassing of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulphide and Its Environmental Impact at Milos Island, Greece

“…Furthermore, although the frequency of occurrence is relatively high, the number of victims of each lethal accident is generally low and often the real cause of death is not properly recognized. As a consequence, the recently published database of volcanic disasters and incidents of the 20th century (Witham, 2005), which attributed the death of 2000 persons and the injury of nearly 3000 to volcanic gases, is probably largely incomplete. The most dangerous gas species is CO 2 , responsible of more than 90% of the victims and of the worst episodes (Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun, Cameroon and Dieng Plateau, Indonesia), but lethal episodes are also attributed to sulphur gases (SO 2 and H 2 S).…”

“…People living in anomalous degassing areas are generally aware of the danger posed by gas accumulation, but nevertheless volcanic gases cause many fatalities each year worldwide (Witham, 2005). Even though the gas hazard at Milos appears restricted to limited areas, it should not be neglected, especially its effects on the most exposed people: children, workers involved in excavation activities and tourists who use public baths.…”

Evaluación de la vulnerabilidad de edificaciones ante la génesis de lahares: Caso de estudio en la población de Santiago Xalitzintla, en el flanco NE del volcán Popocatépetl (México)

“…Se clasifican como primarios cuando son desencadenados por actividad volcánica y secundarios cuando se originan por intensas precipitaciones que arrastran material volcánico (Thouret y Lavigne, 2000). Los lahares tienen la capacidad de destruir cualquier tipo de obra civil, además se les atribuye más de 30 mil pérdidas humanas en el siglo XX (Witham, 2005). En 1877, en la erupción del Volcán Cotopaxi (Ecuador), se originaron lahares producto del derretimiento que sufrió parte de su glaciar al tomar contacto con depósitos de flujos piroclásticos.…”

Monitoring presence and streaming patterns of Icelandic volcanic ash during its arrival to Slovenia

“…Subsequent ash deposit can eventually lead not only to immediate damage of the local ecosystem, but also to severe disruption of air traffic. Therefore, detecting the concentrations and characteristics of the streaming volcanic ash and thus deducing its impact on local environment is becoming more and more critical in order to minimize possible damage (Witham, 2005;Casadevell, 1994). In previous studies of volcanic ash, in-situ devices and remote sensing techniques were demonstrated to be the most powerful tools for quantitative measurements of its presence (Pieri et al, 2002;Sassen et al, 2007;Delene et al, 1996).…”