Sweet home Guatemala…
There are many reasons to leave your home or maybe even your country, and here is some likely reasons some want to do it.
In early June of 2018, a Natural Disaster occurred in Guatemala. Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala’s infamous “Volcano of Fire,” erupted once again. This time the volcano exploded in a hail of ash, spewing out smoke and molten rock and with it everything within the hazard boundary suddenly became engulfed by an incinerating toxic cloud of ash, and waves of mud and volcanic debris.
The bodies of unfortunate villagers and townspeople were virtually cremated as they were overcome and coated by the thick high temperature mud and ash flows. Meanwhile, first responders and rescuers were forced to use picks and sledgehammers as they attempted to break through the roofs of houses buried in debris up to their roof lines, in the hope of finding anyone inside that may have been left to be rescued.
The high speed pyroclastic flows overtook citizens in in their homes and in the streets, as the temperature of the steaming cloud of lava, ash and rock mixed with water and debris reached 700C (1,300F). The hot ash and volcanic gases caused rapid asphyxiation in it’s victims and thickly coated their bodies with ash so that they appeared to resemble ancient Pompeii’s pyroclastic statues.
Guatemalan authorities placed the number of deaths at 69, with number of children among the fatalities. Officials were only able to identify 17 of the casualties at the time, because the searing heat of the volcanic debris flows left most human remains unrecognizable.
Daily Mall (edited)
6 June 2018
Related
Life in the shadow of Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire – video
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According to Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program – Volcán Fuego, is one of Central America’s most active volcanoes, it is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala’s former capital, Antigua. The scarp of an older edifice, Meseta, which lies between 3763 m-high Fuego and its twin volcano to the north, Acatenango. Construction of Meseta volcano dates back to about 230,000 years and continued until the late Pleistocene or early Holocene. Collapse of Meseta volcano may have produced the massive Escuintla debris-avalanche deposit, which extends about 50 km onto the Pacific coastal plain. Growth of the modern Fuego volcano followed, continuing the southward migration of volcanism that began at Acatenango. In contrast to the mostly andesitic Acatenango volcano, eruptions at Fuego have become more mafic with time, and most historical activity has produced basaltic rocks. Frequent vigorous historical eruptions have been recorded at Fuego since the onset of the Spanish era in 1524, and have produced major ashfalls, along with occasional pyroclastic flows and lava flows.
Guatemala has it’s share of Volcanic and seismic events, as well and other natural hazards.
Map based on a UN map. Source: UN Cartographic Section. Source: Nations Online Project.
Searchable map/satellite view of Guatemala
INSIVUMEH and CONRED reported that on 12 October a new phase of activity began at Fuego, characterized by lava fountains rising as high as 400 m above the crater rim, avalanches of incandescent material down the W and SSW flanks, increased rumbling, and a lava flow traveling 1 km down the Santa Teresa (W) drainage. Very frequent explosions generated ash plumes that rose 850 m and drifted 12 km S and SE. On 13 October a steaming lahar descended the Ceniza (SSW) drainage, carrying blocks up to 2 m in diameter, and branches and tree trunks. During 13-16 October explosions (8-18 per hour) produced ash plumes that rose almost 1 km and drifted 8-12 km S, SW, and W. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind including Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), Finca Palo Verde, and Panimaché I and II (8 km SW). Incandescent material was ejected 150-200 m high, causing avalanches of material within the crater, though some of the avalanches traveled long distances, reaching vegetated areas. The lava flow on the W flank was still visible but by 14 October no longer active.
Sources: Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de Desastres (CONRED), Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH)
Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego was continuously active throughout 2017, and has been erupting vigorously since 2002; historical observations of eruptions date back to 1531. These eruptions have resulted in major ashfalls, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and damaging lahars.
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For instance, A violent eruption occurred at Santiaguito lava-dome complex of Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala on the morning of September 21, 2013. At about 02:30 UTC (08:30 local time), the Caliente dome suddenly produced a series of major pyroclastic flows triggered by collapse of accumulated viscous lava at the southeastern rim and flank of the dome.
The flows descended on all sides of the lava dome.
The explosions, accompanied by shock waves that could be heard in 20 km radius, produced an ash plume that rose to about 4.5 km altitude or about 2 km height above the crater. Significant (but smaller compared) ash plume rose from the pyroclastic flows. Ash fall occurred in Quetzaltenango, Santa María de Jesús, Zuníl and other areas downwind. (VD)
A similar major eruption occurred on August 22, 2013. Starting at 11:45 UTC (17:45 local time), the top part of the Caliente lava dome collapsed and produced a series of relatively large pyroclastic flows and explosions. Ash plumes rose more than 2 km to elevations of 4 km altitude.
Events at Fuego volcano also occurred where degassing and explosions were heard during the night of August 21/22. Two lava flows towards Taniluya and Ash canyons with a length of 500 and 600 meters were reported.
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Fuego’s Activity from 19 March through 25 March 2014
Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH) reported that the 20-21 March explosions at Fuego produced ash plumes that rose 500-800 m above the crater and drifted 9-10 km W. Incandescent material was ejected 200 m high. Later on 21 March seismicity increased. The number of explosions also increased to 7-9 moderate to strong explosions per hour. Ash plumes rose 750-950 m and drifted 15 km WSW. Shock waves vibrated structures in areas 8 km away, including Santa Sofía (12 km SW), Panimaché (8 km SW), and Morelia (9 km SW). During 22-23 March explosions generated ash plumes that rose 500-800 m and drifted 10-12 km S and SW. Incandescent material was ejected 200 m high. Ashfall was reported in Santa Sofía, Panimaché, Panimaché II (8 km SW), and Morelia. On 25 March INSIVUMEH noted that activity remained high; 8-14 explosions per hour generated ash plumes that rose 850-1,050 m and drifted 12 km W and SW. Ashfall was reported in Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW) and surrounding areas. Explosions again vibrated structures in Santa Sofía, Panimaché, Panimaché II, and Morelia.
Again, on 13 April, 2014, Activity at Volcán Fuego continues to increase and could be heading towards a new paroxysm with lava flows, strong explosions and potential pyroclastic flows. Constant avalanches were observed on the upper southern flank, which could be related to the opening of an effusive vent. The increased rise of magma to the crater has been producing stronger and more frequent explosions, at averages of 8 per hour reported in last night’s special bulletin of the volcano observatory. Incandescent lava fragments could be ejected to more than 1 km distance, judging from webcam images. Ash plumes rose to more than 1 km height, drifting west and southwest, where ash fall occurred in Panimaché, Sangre de Cristo and other villages. Moderate to strong rumblings were audible in more than 15 kilometers distance and shock waves rattled roofs and windows of houses.
See Also
Landslides
Volcanologist warns of deadly mudslides in Guatemala, euronews, May 6, 2018.
An estimated 600 missing and 30 dead after Guatemala landslide”. 9news. Agence France-Presse. October 3, 2015.
1,400 killed as mudslide wipes out village in Guatemala, The Telegraph, October 9, 2005.
Earthquakes
A Rare Quake Made Even Rarer –The big earthquake that struck the Pacific coast of southern Mexico and northern Guatemala on Thursday night was the strongest temblor on our planet in two years. Its magnitude of 8.1 made it one of the rare, extremely powerful quakes which happen on average not more than once a year. The last quake of such strength struck the coast of central Chile almost two years ago on September 16th 2015. It had a magnitude of 8.3. But aside from their similar magnitudes and rarity these two strong earthquakes have very little in common. –Read more at Berkeley Seismology Lab – Seismo Blog
2012 Guatemala M7.4 earthquake
1976 Guatemala M7.5 earthquake
List of earthquakes in Guatemala
On top of all of this, Socialism has done much to destroy Central America’s economy and its distribution networks, causing unprecedented humanitarian crises.
“Socialist realism” is an idea Joseph Stalin came up with in the 1930’s. Basically pretending all the wonderful socialist ideas are working in speeches, manipulated media hype and propaganda .. all the while, in reality, the people are living a progressively exploited and enslaved life … Acting as though the utopia has arrived … instead of the draconian dystopia and prison being constructed around them.
For instance, on one occasion, so it was narrated, Stalin called for a live chicken and proceeded to use it to make an unforgettable point before some of his henchmen. Forcefully clutching the chicken in one hand, with the other he began to systematically pluck out its feathers. As the chicken struggled in vain to escape, he continued with the painful denuding until the bird was completely stripped. “Now you watch,” Stalin said as he placed the chicken on the floor and walked away with some bread crumbs in his hand. Incredibly, the fear-crazed chicken hobbled toward him and clung to the legs of his trousers. Stalin threw a handful of grain to the bird, and it began to follow him around the room, he turned to his dumbfounded colleagues and said quietly, “This is the way to rule the people. Did you see how that chicken followed me for food, even though I had caused it such torture? People are like that chicken. If you inflict inordinate pain on them they will follow you for food the rest of their lives.”
Now that those “chickens” have become a traveling ‘Caravan.’ Where are they going to roost?
Head Space 