CNN Interview with Greek Geologist Theofilos Toulkeridis, about volcan Tungurahua

The volcanic disaster of the Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador - August 2006

In the night of the 16th to 17th of August 2006, after seven years of almost continued activity of the volcano Tungurahua, the strongest explosion occurred so far with a VEI of 3 generating substantially large pyroclastic flows, which covered several smaller villages and an ash plume reaching the Pacific Ocean interrupting domestic flights and affecting a few million citizen mainly on the western side of the volcano following the predominant wind direction in Ecuador.
Due to local beliefs, that big explosive events occur only at night (when incandescent rocks glows and is visible from distance) most of the farmers living on the west side of this steep-sided stratovolcano leave their homes during higher phases of volcanic activity to stay with relatives or in shelters. Therefore only six people died and few more got heavily injured by this volcanic event, inside a previously declared safe zone (or area of low risk).
Dr. Theofilos Toulkeridis is full time professor of Geology and Isotope Geochemistry at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). He is also teh director of the Center of Geology, Volcanology and Geodynamics of the same university (CGVG-USFQ). Video Courtesy CNN

Category:

Education

Tags:

• volcano
• volcan
• ecuador
• theo

[eddieAK907]

Looks like it has high silica content.

[cstein309]

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