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N0KFQ > TODAY 29.03.17 13:39l 55 Lines 2391 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 27828_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Mar 29
Path: IW8PGT<F1OYP<F1OYP<JH4XSY<JE7YGF<N9PMO<NS2B<N0KFQ
Sent: 170329/1227Z 27828@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ6.0.13
1982
Earthquake and volcano do double damage in Mexico
The combination of an earthquake and a volcanic eruption at El
Chichon in southern Mexico converts a hill into a crater, kills
thousands of people and destroys acres of farmland on this day in
1982. The eruptions, which continued for over a week, caught many
of the area residents unaware and unprepared.
For most of the residents living in the shadow of El Chichon
(also known as Chinhonal), the 4,500-foot mountain seemed to pose
no danger. Because its last eruption was 130 years earlier and
minor, most people ignored its potential for destruction and
enjoyed the fertile soil its volcanic past provided. However,
late in 1981, two geologists, intrigued by hot springs and
steaming gaps in the earth near the volcano, did an investigation
that revealed increased seismic activity and the possibility of a
major eruption of the volcano. Unfortunately, their report was
ignored.
Area residents also failed to pay attention when the ground began
shaking on the night of March 28. But at 5:15 a.m. the following
morning, no one could miss the combination earthquake and
eruption that exploded the mountain. Ash was sent flying 60,000
feet in the air. About 150 people were killed when their roofs
collapsed under raining volcanic debris. Two days later, ash from
the eruption fell in Austin, Texas, many hundreds of miles to the
north.
Most of the approximately 2,000 people killed by the eruption
died from exposure to the pyroclastic flow, a volatile mix of hot
particles and gas. El Chichon lost its entire top, leaving only a
large crater 1,000 feet deep and, at less than 700 feet high,
shorter than the surrounding hills. Two more major eruptions
occurred on April 3 and 4. In these, the debris was sent so high
that it came down as virtual landslide on the surrounding
villages. Trees and buildings were no match for the dirt and
rocks. The debris also blocked streams, causing flooding in the
area. Nine entire villages were destroyed and more than 100
square miles of farmland were unusable for years.
Overall, the energy released by the eruptions, which were similar
in scope to the Mount St. Helens eruptions in Washington in 1980,
was the equivalent of 8,000 one-kiloton atomic bombs.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Winlink: n0kfq@winlink.org
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