Learning From Experience - Public Education

Public Education Would Have Helped

Unfortunately, the citizens of Armero in Colombia had no knowledge of the potential hazards from Nevado del Ruiz, nor did they have any training of the best evacuation routes. Although citizens had been notified of the eruption they did not understand the possibility of lahars nor did they know where to go - so they didn't evacuate (IAVCEI,1997). Approximately 24,000 people died when the lahars reached their town. Would they have survived if, like the people of Rabaul, New Guinea, they knew the danger and had an evacuation plan?

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