NEWS
The United States and Colombia cooperate to deal with the impact of volcanic activity
In light of the recent eruptions of the Huila Volcano on April 17 and 18, the U.S. Government collaborated with the Government of Colombia and its Disaster Response and Prevention Agency (DGPAD) by transporting 11 tons of relief supplies, providing air and ground support, evacuations, and overflights for Colombian disaster assessment teams. During these overflights, several trapped families were spotted and rescued.
Through its United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Embassy has also been working with scientists from the Instituto Colombiano de Geología y Minería (INGEOMINAS) and technicians at the Popayán observatory to monitor and interpret ongoing volcanic and seismic activity.
After seismic activity inside the Huila volcano occurred on February 19, 2007, USAID donated US$42,000 worth of volcano monitoring equipment to the Government of Colombia, which was installed at the monitoring station in Popayan. It was this monitoring equipment in Popayan that sent the early evacuation alert for residents in the vicinity of Nevado Huila on April 17, averting potential casualties.
The February equipment donation to the monitoring station in Popayan happened as part of an assessment visit by three U.S. volcanologists. These same three volcanologists are scheduled to return to the area early this coming week to do further assessments and lend support.
Bogotá D.C.
April,20, 2007