Ontake - bad response (comms)

Question 1

Hazards

Answer 1

• pyroclastic flows
• ash cloud

Question 2

Impacts

Answer 2

• tourist resorts and hotels closed
• 63 hikers killed
• heat from eruption melted snow creating slides and flows
• 250 trapped by pyroclastic flows
• 50cm thick ash covered mountain
  – a thin layer of ash can make soil fertile

Question 3

Prediction

Answer 3

• extensive monitoring did not detect any warnings
• only 10 mins before, immediate precursors detected, but no warnings given
  (phreatic eruption=hard predict)

Question 4

during

Answer 4

• 1000 rescue workers hampered as volcano continued to shoot toxic gas, rocks and ash

Question 5

after

Answer 5

JMA monitor Ontake 24/7 (japan meteorological agency)