The Hazard

The different types of ("primary") eruptive events are:

 Pyroclastic explosions;
 Hot ash releases;
 Lava flows;
 Gas emissions;
 Glowing avalanches (gas and ash releases).
Factors of Vulnerability
 Topographic factors;
 The proximity of a population to the volcano;
Main causes of Mortality and Morbidity
The risk depends on the different types of event:
 Mediated trauma, crush type injuries, and lacerations can be caused by
explosion and contact with volcanic mass;
 Hot ash, gases, rock and magma cause skin and lung burns, asphyxiation,
conjunctivitis or corneal abrasion;
 Breathing the gases and fumes can cause acute respiratory distress;
Foreseeable Needs
Pending an assessment, needs can be anticipated such as: search and rescue,
medical assistance, managing population displacement in the short-term,
reducing the risk for vulnerable groups of being exposed to ashes, raising
awareness on the risk associated with ashes.
Pyroclastic Density Currents
Pyroclastic density currents are are gravity-driven, rapidly moving, ground-hugging
mixtures of rock fragments and hot gases. This mixture forms a dense fluid that
moves along the ground with an upper part that is less dense as particles fall toward
the ground.

Lahars are part of the family of debris flows that are fluids composed of mixtures of
water and particles of all sizes from clay-size to gigantic boulders. The abundance of
solid matter carries the water, unlike watery floods where water carries the
fragments.

Debris-flow Avalanches
When the landslide occurred, it decreased the pressure on the pressurized interior of
the volcano which expanded explosively to form a lateral blast that devastated. The
eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980 started with a relatively small volcanic
earthquake.

Lava flows
Lava flows rarely threaten human life because lava usually moves slowly -- a few
centimeters per hour for silicic flows to several km/hour for basaltic flows. An
exceptionally fast flow (extremely rare) Major hazards of lava flows -- burying,
crushing, covering, burning everything in their path.

Tephra falls and Ballistic Projectiles formed on Land

Tephra consists of pyroclastic fragments of any size and origin. It is a synonym for
"pyroclastic material." Tephra ranges in size from ash (<2 mm) to lapilli (2-64 mm) to
blocks and bombs (>64 mm).

Tephra fall and ballistic projectiles endanger life and property by (1) the force of
impact of falling fragments, but this occurs only close to an eruption, (2) loss of
agricultural lands if burial is greater than 10 cm depth.
Volcanic Gas
Magma is molten rock containing dissolved gases that are released to the
atmosphere during an eruption and while the magma lies close to the surface from
hydrothermal systems. The most abundant volcanic gas is water vapor; other
important gases are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, hydrogen
sulfide, chlorine, and fluorine.

Tsunamis
A tsunami is a long-period sea wave or wave train generated by a sudden
displacement of water. Tsunamis travel at very high speeds through deep water as
low broad waves and build to great heights as they approach the shallow bottom of
shores.