Operation Fiery Vigil

Response and Recovery -Mount Pinatubo Eruptions

June 1991

Orientation

Orientation (cont.)

Orientation (cont.)• Luzon Province

– Largest island in the Philippine archipelago

• MAGTF 4-90 deployed to the Republic of the Philippines following a coup attempt against the Aquino government

Orientation (cont.)• Clark Air Force Base,

Angeles– Approx. 18,000 US

personnel and dependants

• Subic Naval Base, Olongapo– Approx. 20,000 US

personnel and dependants

Situation

• In Apr 91, several nuns walking in the vicinity of Mt. Pinatubo noticed smoke coming from vents in the ground– Volcano last erupted ~500 years ago

• PHILVOCS and personnel from the USGS dispatched to the area to begin monitoring

Situation (cont.)• The caldera of Mt. Pinatubo began to grow,

and the mountain begins to put out plumes of ash

• PHILVOCS became concerned that there is an increasing chance of a catastrophic eruption

• On 7 JUN 91, Pinatubo erupted, sending up a 7 km (4.5 mi) high plume of ash– Thin layer of dust reached Subic

Situation (cont.)

• Fearing a serious eruption in the near future, the commanding general of Clark Air Force Base ordered an evacuation to Subic Naval Base– 18,000 Air Force personnel and their

dependents made the trip—mostly in their own vehicles

Situation (cont.)• Subic began to receive the influx of

refugees– Living space was at a premium

• 14 JUN 91 – A larger eruption coated Subic with a thicker layer of ash

• PHILVOCS advised that a catastrophic eruption is imminent—within 24 hours– All MAGTF personnel were recalled from

liberty– COC was activated

Situation (cont.)• 15 JUN 91 – Mt Pinatubo erupted

catastrophically– Over 6 cubic miles of material were ejected up

to 22 miles high and 300 miles across

Pyroclastic Flows

Filipino Refugees

Situation (cont.)• Earthquakes• Lightning Storms• Volcanic “bombs”• Ash clouds/darkness

Response• Minimal loss of life

– 3 US deaths– 300-700 Filipino deaths out of ~1 million living

in a 30 mile radius– Numerous building destroyed

• Lack of food/water/power– Hygiene issues

Response (cont.)• Evacuation from Subic

– USS Abraham Lincoln– Airhead in Cebu– Follow-on evacuation to:

• Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan• Anderson AFB, Guam• McChord AFB, Washington

• MV Jack Lummus

Area of Initial Impact

• Initial eruption did little damage to Clark AFB

• Subsequent lahars responsible for most of the damage

Lahars

Recovery

• Power Grid• Water• Ash removal

– Naval magazines– Airfield

• Looting

Aftermath• Mt. Pinatubo eruption

– Second most powerful eruption in the past 100 years

– Before eruption: 1,755 meters high– After eruption: 1,485 meters high

• Ash deposits up to 600 ft thick• Change in global weather/temp

Lake Pinatubo 2001– A New Concern

Questions?