ERUPTION CONTINUES: As the Chaiten volcano in southern Chile continues to spew hot rocks, ash and gas, the Chilean government promises financial aid to those affected. The government ordered the evacuation of all 12,000 residents of the area, which ash could bury like Pompeii. In addition to people, the eruption threatens a 6 million ton salmon farming industry and a 40,000-head ranching industry.

After 9,000 dormant years, Chaiten began erupting May 2. The eruption is causing extreme financial stress to local residents who must abandon their homes and livelihoods. The ash plume is heading south across Patagonia and could reach as far as Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Financial Relief for Residents

When it erupted 10 days ago, Chaiten shot ash 12 miles high, forcing people within a 30-mile radius to evacuate. The region around Chaiten is dry, with scant rainfall to wash away the volcanic ash that’s covering farms and villages. The ash will pollute air and water, and affect agriculture and ranching for a long time.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced the following aid to help people impacted by the volcano:

• exempting residents from all property taxes for four years
• erasing all interest on residents’ debts

This financial relief will save residents $2.8 million.

The Finance Ministry Undersecretary María Olivia Recart said, “We have decided to take measures that we believe are appropriate for a disaster of this magnitude. They are exceptional measures, and they will go a long way to alleviating the stressful situation facing many local residents.” (The Patagonia Times, 5/8/08)

Chaiten Awakens from Dormancy

Although radiocarbon dating puts the last eruption of Chaiten about 9,370 years ago, geologists consider the lifespan of Andean volcanoes to be about 1 million years.

According to Professor Charles Stern, University of Colorado at Boulder geologist, there is little chance the eruption will affect global climate. He said, "… to significantly affect the climate, a volcano has to put out a lot of sulfur dioxide aerosols into the stratosphere for an extended period, which then reflects sunlight away from the Earth. Our data from Chaiten showed the last eruption was high in silica and low in sulfur." (ScienceDaily, 5/7/08)

Eruptions from other volcanoes, such as the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, or the 1815 eruption of Tambora in Indonesia 1815, caused significant global cooling for up to three years.

Copyright © 2010 Informify

Sources

Govt Announces Aid Measures for Chile Volcano Victims (The Patagonia Times, 5/8/08)

Chile Unveils Rebuilding, Aid Plan as Volcano Keeps Erupting (Bloomberg, 5/10/08)

Patagonia fears environmental damage from volcano (Reuters, 5/11/08)

Chile's Chaiten Volcano One Of Scores Of Active Volcanoes In Region (ScienceDaily, 5/7/08)

Question for Readers:

Do you think that $2.8 million for 12,000 people over four years—that’s $58 a person each year—is sufficient financial assistance, even in Chile?