Volcanic eruption
Volcanic eruptions drive people away from their homes and damage farmland. The Red Cross is helping local people to prepare for volcanic eruptions.
In a volcanic eruption, volcanic rocks, lava, ash and gases erupt into the atmosphere or onto the surface of the earth. The eruptions vary from relatively calm lava flow to sudden explosions.
A volcano can destroy the surrounding areas within a radius of kilometres during the first fifteen minutes of the eruption. Lava can flow very long distances, up to several kilometres.
Lava usually moves at a pace of a few kilometres an hour, but can flow at more than ten kilometres an hour on steep slopes.
The temperature of lava is 500 °C to 1,200 °C, burning, crushing and burying everything in its wake. Clouds of hot ash and gas, so-called pyroclastic clouds that burn everything that they hit, are the most dangerous types of eruptions.
Eruptions also result in lahars, i.e. rapid debris flows and mudflows. They are formed on volcano slopes soaked by rainwater and tear trees, houses and stones down with them as they flow into the valley.
As a result of a volcanic eruption, even large groups of people have to leave their homes to flee lava streams, ash clouds and volcanic gases.
A volcanic eruption can also result in extensive long-term effects by destroying arable land and causing food crises in areas dependent on agriculture.
The Red Cross helps prepare for volcanic eruptions
The Red Cross
- trains volunteers who practise evacuation procedures in communities
- trains volunteers and local people in providing first aid
- strengthens the readiness of the local Red Cross or Red Crescent to prepare for volcanic eruptions and to respond to disasters
- utilises information from early warning systems on volcanic activity when confirming and targeting preparedness measures
- supports people living in high-risk areas to reach all people, including the most vulnerable, with information about the volcanic eruption.
The Red Cross helps in the event of a volcanic eruption
The Red Cross
- mobilises volunteers to assist with evacuations
- supports authorities in search and rescue operations and provides first aid
- provides medical care and emotional support
- provides people with food, shelter and emergency supplies
- distributes clean water and provides sanitation systems, such as toilets.
Humanitarian aid
