Posted on 04/18/2007 8:50:41 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEIVA, Colombia - Thousands of people were evacuated after a long-dormant volcano erupted late Tuesday and again early Wednesday, provoking avalanches and floods that swept away houses and bridges.
The Nevado del Huila volcano's eruptions were its first on record since Colombia was colonized by the Spanish 500 years ago.
There are about 10,000 people living in the area around the volcano, and about 3,500 had been evacuated, Luz Amanda Pulido, director of the national disaster office, told The Associated Press after flying over the volcano in southwest Colombia.
There were no reports of deaths or injuries.
The eruption sent an avalanche of rocks down the volcano's sides and into the Paez and Simbola rivers, causing them to flood.
"The bridges were swept away, the highway used by the indigenous in the zone was destroyed for various kilometers (miles) and the problem we have now is the lack of a route to deliver goods and medicines to the population," Police Gen. Orlando Paez said.
Experts were not ruling out more eruptions.
"The seismic activity remains light but permanent, and we can't rule out another bigger event in the next hours or days," said Mario Ballesteros, director of the government's Institute for Geology and Mining.
The Nevado del Huila, which is topped with a crown of ice, is Colombia's third-highest peak at 18,484 feet. Located 170 miles southwest of Bogota, it became active again in March with a series of internal rumblings.
In 1985, the town of Armero was wiped from the map and 25,000 people were killed when another volcano, the Nevado del Ruiz, exploded and set off a series of mudslides. It was Colombia's worst natural disaster.
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In this photo released by Ingeominas shows the Nevado del Huila volcano in the southwestern state of Huila, Colombia, Wednesday, April 18, 2007. The Nevado del Huila volcano erupted twice late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning provoking avalanches and flooding that swept away houses and bridges and prompted the evacuation of thousands. (AP Photo/ Ingeominas)
Does Colombia buy carbon offsets?
Nah, their trees on the other side of the mountain suck that carbon right up. Plus, they have a huge credit for having the most beautiful women in the world.
About 13 years ago, volcanic activity in this area provoked earthquakes, which in turn unleashes a series of landslides that killed about 200 people.
Colombia ping.
I was browsing one of the mail-order sites...Colombian women are absolutely gorgeous. Too bad the country is a drug-infested H-hole.
So... did you order one?
22 years ago, volcano-induced mudslides buried several villages and killed 23,000 folks. It's good dirt, though, so they keep on trying to live in that valley of the shadow of death.
You would be wrong on this assessment.
WOW!
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