The document summarizes the effects of a volcanic eruption in Armero, Colombia in 1985. The primary effect was the eruption itself, followed by lahars (mudflows) caused by melting ice, rocks, and trees from the volcano. The tertiary effect was economic and social devastation - over 20,000 people died in Armero, which had a population of 29,000 before the catastrophe, making it the second worst eruption of the 20th century. The consequences would have been less severe if people had known the hazard was coming and taken proper protective measures advised by scientists, rather than remaining in their homes.

1. Linkagesexistbetweennatural hazards
The primaryeffectof thishazard wasthe eruptionandthe previouslittle earthquakes.The
secondaryeffectwasthe laharscausedbythe meltingice,rocksandtreeswhich were inthe
volcano.The tertiaryeffectwaseconomical andsociological,because all Armerowas
devastatedandthere wasover20.000 people diedonlyinthisvillage,whichwasof 29.000
habitantsbefore the catastrophe.Thishighnumberof deathmakesthiseventthe second
worse eruptionof the 20th
centuryandthe fourthworse since 1500s
Humans can turn disastrous eventsinto catastrophes
Armerowas buildingonmuds.People stayathome notto die because the ashis fallingas
scientistsaidtothem,but theydidn’tthinkabouttheycoulddie buryonthe muds,and it was
whathappened.
Consequencesofhazards can be minimized
The consequence of thishazardwouldbe lessthanitactuallywas,because people didn’tknow
that itwill occur andthe government,whoknew,didn’tdoanythingtoprotectthem.