OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Colombia: Nevado del Huila Volcanic Eruption
19 April 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Avalanches caused by the eruption of the Nevado del Huila volcano
affected nearly 5.000 people in Cauca and Huila departments. Situation

According to INGEOMINAS, seismic activity and one eruption were
registered since last night in the Nevado del Huila Volcano, causing
avalanches in the Paez river basin and an increased flow in other river
basins, such as Simbala and Magdalena.  The eruption took place at 2:57
a.m. Rescue organisms reported that nearly 5.000 people, mainly
indigenous population from the municipality of Belalcazar in Cauca, have
been temporally relocated and some more are expected to move in the next
hours. According to preliminary information provided by the Nation
Direction of Prevention and Response to Natural Disasters, no victims
have been registered. However, the municipalities affected by the
avalanche, resulted isolated by the destruction of 14 bridges.

    Huila - La Plata, Paicol, Tesalia and Nataga, municipalities located
    along the border of the Paez River have been the most affected in
    this department. Preliminary information reports 1.500 hectares of
    crops affected, and the loss of equipment.

    Cauca - The most affected municipalities are Belalcazar and Inza.
    3.000 people form Belalcazar have been relocated since last night to
    the rural areas of La Mesa de Caloto and La Mesa de Belalcazar. Even
    though Toribio and Jambalo municipalities have an alert, there is
    still no information available about the effects of the avalanches
    there.


National Response

The Regional Committee for Disaster Prevention and Attention in Huila is
sustaining a meeting with the Pan-American Health Organization to take
actions to face the emergency. INGEOMINAS is monitoring volcanic
activity.

The Regional Comitee for Disasters' Prevention and Attention in Cauca
called for a meeting at 9 a.m. with the presence of the National
Direction for Disaster Prevention and Attention and OCHA to inform on
the situation and coordinate response actions.

International Response

The UN UNETE team is holding a meeting with the National System for
Disaster Prevention and Attention, to coordinate prevention actions and
monitor the situation.

Local Response

With the support of the National System for Disaster Attention and
Prevention, all contingency plans are active and the local response has
been efficient. Prevention measures and communication systems among
local communities have successfully worked.

This situation report is based on information provided by the office of
the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as well as from the
Colombian Red Cross.

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