22 Environmental Geoscience; Geology and Health; Public Policy I: Environmental Health, Natural Hazard Assessment, and Environmental Remediation and Water Management (Posters)
VOLCANIC DISASTERS: HOW PEOPLE DIE AND ARE INJURED BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
Paper number: 22-6
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Authors
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Robert I. TillingU.S. Geological Society, Palo Alto, CA
Abstract
Volcanic eruptions occur infrequently yet have the potential of unleashing one of the most destructive forces on earth. While volcanic eruptions have been responsible for the death of approximately 300,000 people in the past 400 years, the cause of death and exact number of fatalities are not well documented. We therefore set out to summarize the causes of fatalities from notable volcanic disasters and the health effects from volcanic eruptions. With over 500 million people, or 10% of the world's population, living within 100 km (62 miles) of a volcano that has been active in the historical record, understanding how people die and are injured may help mitigate future volcanic disasters.