Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México

After 22 years of the 1982 eruption of El Chichón volcano, we conducted a statistically based survey of the residents of the community of Chapultenango (10 km east of the volcano) to assess their perception of volcano hazards and risk. The survey used: interviews with 90 adults who survived the 198...

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Main Authors: J. L. Macías, C. Limón-Hernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geofísica 2009-01-01
Series:Geofísica Internacional
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2009/01/8limon.pdf
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author J. L. Macías
C. Limón-Hernández
author_facet J. L. Macías
C. Limón-Hernández
author_sort J. L. Macías
collection DOAJ
description After 22 years of the 1982 eruption of El Chichón volcano, we conducted a statistically based survey of the residents of the community of Chapultenango (10 km east of the volcano) to assess their perception of volcano hazards and risk. The survey used: interviews with 90 adults who survived the 1982 eruption, and completion of questionnaires by 210 students, who were born after the eruption. While adult interviewees recognized the volcanic phenomena of the 1982 eruption, many remained poorly informed about volcanic hazards. Surprisingly, only 12% of the interviewees believe that the volcano could erupt again. The students are more educated and better informed, and most of them believe that the volcano could erupt again and are well aware of the hazards posed. In case of future eruption, of the students answered that they would abandon their homes to save their lives; 66% knew the evacuation routes. The results demonstrate that people of Chapultenango -particularly the older residents- have an inadequate perception of volcanic hazards and risk, despite proximity to an active volcano. Unfortunately, no long-term governmental programs to increase public awareness of volcano hazards and to develop hazards-mitigation strategies have been implemented at Chapultenango or other localities surrounding the volcano.
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spelling doaj.art-a2a5358559ac47fba8c2fb056292e2e72023-09-02T19:24:14ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de GeofísicaGeofísica Internacional0016-71692009-01-01481113132Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, MéxicoJ. L. MacíasC. Limón-HernándezAfter 22 years of the 1982 eruption of El Chichón volcano, we conducted a statistically based survey of the residents of the community of Chapultenango (10 km east of the volcano) to assess their perception of volcano hazards and risk. The survey used: interviews with 90 adults who survived the 1982 eruption, and completion of questionnaires by 210 students, who were born after the eruption. While adult interviewees recognized the volcanic phenomena of the 1982 eruption, many remained poorly informed about volcanic hazards. Surprisingly, only 12% of the interviewees believe that the volcano could erupt again. The students are more educated and better informed, and most of them believe that the volcano could erupt again and are well aware of the hazards posed. In case of future eruption, of the students answered that they would abandon their homes to save their lives; 66% knew the evacuation routes. The results demonstrate that people of Chapultenango -particularly the older residents- have an inadequate perception of volcanic hazards and risk, despite proximity to an active volcano. Unfortunately, no long-term governmental programs to increase public awareness of volcano hazards and to develop hazards-mitigation strategies have been implemented at Chapultenango or other localities surrounding the volcano.http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2009/01/8limon.pdfVolcanic hazardsrisk perceptionpreparednessChichónChiapasMéxico
spellingShingle J. L. Macías
C. Limón-Hernández
Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México
Geofísica Internacional
Volcanic hazards
risk perception
preparedness
Chichón
Chiapas
México
title Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México
title_full Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México
title_fullStr Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México
title_full_unstemmed Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México
title_short Volcanic hazards and risk perception at the “Zoque” community of Chapultenango: El Chichón volcano, Chiapas, México
title_sort volcanic hazards and risk perception at the zoque community of chapultenango el chichon volcano chiapas mexico
topic Volcanic hazards
risk perception
preparedness
Chichón
Chiapas
México
url http://www.geofisica.unam.mx/unid_apoyo/editorial/publicaciones/investigacion/geofisica_internacional/anteriores/2009/01/8limon.pdf
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