USAID Provides Volcano Assistance to Chile
WASHINGTON, May 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American people,
through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), have
provided $80,000 to assist the Chilean geological agency SERNAGEOMIN to
monitor current volcanic conditions at the Chaiten volcano.
On May 2, the Chaiten volcano, located 760 miles south of the capital
city of Santiago, began to erupt and spew molten rock and ash, after being
dormant for 173 years. In response, the Government of Chile issued a red
alert, forcing people living within a 30-mile radius of the volcano to
evacuate. As of May 14, local authorities had evacuated approximately 8,000
people living near the volcano. The most affected areas include the cities
of Chaiten, Futuleufu, El Amarille, and Chana.
In response to the volcano eruption, U.S. Ambassador to Chile Paul E.
Simons offered the Government of Chile assistance through the U.S.
Geological Survey Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP).
As of May 9, SERNAGEOMIN was monitoring eruptive activity using four
seismic stations near the volcano. The technology at these stations
requires that a person travel to the stations to collect data on the
volcano. With funding from USAID, VDAP will install new telemetered seismic
stations and assist SERNAGEOMIN with data interpretation. In addition, on
May 16, VDAP sent a three-person team of experts to Chile to assist with
station and telemetry installation and to provide support with data
interpretation.
USAID will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with the
Government of Chile.
For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance
programs, please visit:
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International
Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide
for nearly 50 years.
Public Information: 202-712-4810
SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development
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Related links:
http://www.usaid.gov
CONTACT:
USAID Press Office, +1-202-712-4320
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