OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Comoros - Karthala Volcanic Eruption
18 April 2005


1. Context

The Karthala Volcano forms most of the landmass of Grande Comore (also
called Ngazidja), the main island of the Union of the Comoros. The
volcano is one of the largest volcanos in activity in the world. Over
the last two hundreds years, it has developed an eruption every eleven
years in average. The majority of the eruptions were magmatic, resulting
in lava flow on both sides of the island. Phreatic eruptions also
occurred, projecting vapour, gas and rocks in the periphery of the
summit.

2. Situation

The Karthala Volcano has been showing signs of increasing activity over
the past week. This activity has escalated further since Saturday 16
April in late afternoon, with clouds of ash and smoke affecting a number
of villages in the Dimani and Pidjani regions in the eastern part of the
island. Reports also indicate that some rivers flowing on the flank of
the volcano have become polluted with volcanic debris.

On Sunday 17 April, populations from these villages began to flee in
fear of gas and lava flow. According to the local authorities, as many
as 10,000 people may have fled from their homes in the eastern region in
order to seek refuge in other parts of the island.

On the same day in the afternoon, the authorities organised an
overflight of the volcano with support from Comoros Aviation, a private
company, which observed a lava flow confined within the volcano. A
second overflight was organised on Monday morning, which confirmed that
the lava remains confined within the crater.

Based on the information available, authorities are making a number of
hypotheses regarding the evolution of the volcanic activity: 1) a
subterraneous lava flow may spew in the sea and increase the dimension
of a small island, which has emerged at 15 km off the coast during
recent months, or 2) the lava may disgorge directly on the flank of the
volcano from cracks in the crater. Further data is required to explain
the volcanic activity and forecast its development with more accuracy.

3. Immediate needs

The majority of the populations fleeing from their villages are seeking
refuge among family members in other parts of the island. The
authorities have dispatched rapid assessment teams to ascertain the
number of affected populations as well as their needs. The results from
these assessments are not yet known.

4. Response

The authorities have issued a warning advising populations to avoid the
affected areas and exposure to gases and ashes.

The authorities have also been providing emergency assistance to
populations in affected areas. This includes the establishment of a
mobile command post to help coordinate on-site assistance operations,
the mobilisation of approximately 50 vehicles for transporting
populations fleeing from their homes and the dispatch of two medical
teams.

UN Agencies have provided four vehicles in support of government's
activities. UNICEF has made personnel available to strengthen national
capacities to coordinate assistance operations, and has purchased ten
tons of rice for distribution to displaced populations. It is also
preparing to provide further assistance, such as non-food items,
essential drugs and education materials, pending further information on
the needs.

The French Government is planning to send a team of specialists from La
Reunion in order to assist with the assessment of the volcanic activity.

As of Monday 18 April, the authorities have not requested any additional
external assistance.

5. Coordination

The government of the Union of the Comoros has a national disaster
preparedness and response plan, which specifies roles and
responsibilities of the government departments and their partners in the
event of a disaster. This plan has recently been prepared with support
from the OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa.

Disaster response coordination falls under responsibility of the
Ministry of Defence and Territorial Security, which manages relief
operations through a Central Command Post. International support is
coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator. The OCHA Regional Office is
maintaining regular contact with the Resident Coordinator in order to
determine additional coordination support needs.

6. Contact

- Ms. Giuseppina Mazza, UN Resident Coordinator: + 269 73 10 25
- Mr. Chris Kaye, OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa:
   + 27 11 517 1609

This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
   Ms. Noel Tsekouras, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1587
   Mr. Michel N. Kassa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2163

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-367 5126

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