CABO VERDE: VULCANO ERUPTION EMERGENCY SITUATION REPORT Nº 8 (4 DECEMBER 2014)

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Christian Evelyn O’Neal’
6 years ago
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The present situation report, which is produced by the UN Office in Cabo Verde in collaboration with the UNDAC Team (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination), OCHA (Office for the

1 The present situation report, which is produced by the UN Office in Cabo Verde in collaboration with the UNDAC Team (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination), OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), WHO, UNDP and EU experts, disaster management partners and based on information received by national and international partners, provides an update on the emergency in Cabo Verde after the eruption of the Fogo Volcano in the morning of Sunday 23 November Information has been provided by the Government Crisis Cabinet, the National Civil Protection Service, the University of Cabo Verde, the National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, the Embassy of USA to Cabo Verde, the Embassy of Brazil to Cabo Verde, ICCA (the National Child Protection Agency), the Delegation of the European Commission to Cabo Verde, and by the UNDAC Team. BACKGROUND This map shows the delineation of the lava flow and damage grading on assets in Portela Chã das Caldeiras. The satellite image was acquired on 1 December 2014 by Copernicus (the European Earth Observation Programme). The eruption started in the morning of 23 November 2014 and is affecting the entire population of Chã das Caldeiras. National authorities account for a total of about 1000 people residing in the location 1. On the first day of the eruption, efforts were made to evacuate all affected people to the localities of Achada Furna, Mosteiros and Monte Grande. After a relative period of apparent calm, the eruption on 3 and 4 December has intensified, increasing in magnitude and speed of the lava front, reaching the community of Portela, destroying several buildings and infrastructures. The maximum speed that the lava movement reached was of 60m/hour and the maximum height reached was of 6 to 8 meters. Volcanic activity is on-going. Lava flow continues in Chã das Caldeiras and the flow rate from the vent varies. The front of lava flow is moving at present day 1m/h. 1 According to 2010 census totaled 697 people (340 male, 357 women), including 312 children under age of 15 and 24 elderly greater than 65.

2 SITUATION OVERVIEW 1. The eruption started at 10:00 on 23 December Preliminary data showed that the eruptions were anteceded by a series of seismic events captured and reported by the local seismic network. 3. No human injuries reported. 4. Three vents on the north-south direction were opened, with distinct viscosity (`A a and Pahoehoe lava) and flow directions. 5. The lava front initially cut the road access to the community (Bangaeira, Cova Tina, Portela e Djeu de Lorna), impeding evacuation effort by motorized vehicles. An alternate route has now been traced, enabling access. 6. The lava has claimed agriculture fields and has destroyed the recently inaugurated landmark building of the headquarters of Fogo s Natural Park (funded by KWF and quarters of the Consolidation of Areas Protected Systems project). The lava has also claimed 57 households, one school and one hotel. 7. Emissions of toxic gases could affect local population, but no danger is currently reported. 8. An ash plume has been reported at high altitude by the Meteorological Agency, and air traffic to Fogo has been affected. 9. The front of lava is advancing slowly at the approximate rate of 1m/h. That means possible progressive destruction of other houses Chã das Caldeiras village (until now 56). If lava flow continues progressively, the access route (the third built by the National Civil Protection Service) can be cut, limiting the possibility to bring out remaining goods. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE 1. A "Situação de Contingência", i.e. emergency situation, was proclaimed for the island of Fogo and neighboring island of Brava on 23 November. 2. The Civil Protection Services, Red Cross and Armed Forces have mobilized local resources to respond to the evacuation efforts and assist the evacuees. 3. The government provided social housing (schools, liceu) to be used as shelters. 4. The Civil Protection Services, together with the local population, have built an alternative road to ensure access when one of the main road was blocked by the lava. Works continue to keep all access to the affected sites impeded. 5. In Achada Furna, many families have re-integrated houses built following the 1995 volcano explosion, leaving only 13 families still in the school. The Instituto Nacional de Gestao do Territorio is conducting an assessment of lodgement, rehabilitating water and electricity in the houses where families from Chã de Caldeiras have relocated. 6. Initial visits to health facilities indicate there are no acute humanitarian needs.

3 NEEDS 7. Children from the affected community are able to attend school with residents. 8. In the three centres hosting affected people, the following services are provided: three hot meals a day, water, children have been reintegrated in the schools, medical assistance and medicine, and psychological support. 9. The UN has deployed to Fogo Island an integrated team composed of UNDAC/OCHA, UNDP, WHO and EU Civil Protection members to conduct an assessment of the situation and support with the coordination of the institutions involved in the response. The team overlapped with the UNICEF mission. 10. The Portuguese frigate arrived to the island of Fogo on 4 December. The mission is expected to last until Sunday 7 December. 1. An important current need, by the government, is to be able to adequately monitor the volcano as there are concerns about the situation being volatile. Request has been made to the Portuguese Frigate to use the helicopter to collect imagery with a thermic camera. This mission may be conducted depending on visibility and meteorology. 2. Damage and cost assessment for the coming days is crucial to help plan additional resources mobilization. 3. National Civil Protection Service would like to monitor the situation around Pico, even on the east side, to assess the situation there. GENERAL COORDINATION 1. The UN Resident Coordinator has established a mechanism of coordination for international assistance including relief operations with the Government s Special Coordinator for response to the volcano eruption and the Chief of the Emergency Cabinet. In addition the UN RC has regular contacts with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Environment and Territories and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure appropriate Government liaisons with United Nations Agencies. Contacts between the Civil Protection and UN office were initiated hours after the eruption and are maintained. 2. INMG (Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica) has regularly issued public communiques with updates on the movement of the lava and evolution of the situation in Fogo 3. Meeting with the UN resident agencies was held Wednesday 3/12 to evaluate the emergency situation and coordinate the UN response. 4. The UNCT is informed regularly.

4 5. UNOSAT and OCHA was contacted on 24/11 to provide satellite imagery that could also help on the rapid assessment and the extent of the current lava flow and communities that might be affected. 6. UNDAC is working with MapAction, remotely, to request a mapping of the affected areas. 7. The UN office was contacted by international NGOs wanting to obtain information and ready to assist and provide relief items. 8. The President of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca visited the affected area. The UN integrated mission, were part of the visit to the volcano and affected communities. 9. In the community of Achada Furna and Montegrande, the UN integrated team began a preliminary assessment. 10. The Government of Cabo Verde is working with the Portuguese Frigate on a joint plan of action that will assess the means to allocate the emergency and humanitarian relief, as well as the effective use of the helicopter and medical assistance on board. LOGISTICS 1. Chã das Caldeiras: the population has been totally evacuated. An escape route is still opened. It is located very close to the caldera s rim, and can be interrupted if lava flow continues in the same direction. This route is used to bring out the goods ( liters wine, high value commodity for the community) from Chã das Caldeiras. 2. Three main locations for displaced people exist: 1) Monte Grande, 2) Achada das furnas 3) Mosteiros. Recorded displacement population is as follows: MONTE GRANDE ACHADA DAS FURNAS MOSTEIROS Adults Elderly Children under Children under Pregnant Total

5 IMAGERY

OMS CABO VERDE Newsletter Special Edition Fogo volcanic eruption : From the onset to the post-disaster assessment The role of the WHO

OMS CABO VERDE Newsletter Special Edition Fogo volcanic eruption 2014-2015 : From the onset to the post-disaster assessment The role of the WHO Fig 1 - A view of the slowly advancing lava and the extent