Evaluation of Risk from Volcanic Ashfalls at the Los Tuxtlas Region, Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract:

The Los Tuxtlas region is an area in the eastern Mexican State of Veracruz, located over the Tuxtla volcanic field and surroundings. This field is composed of 353 distinct cones, 4 large composite volcanoes, and 42 maars. Eruptive activity in the TVF began in the late Miocene, underwent a quiescent period approximately 2.6-0.8 Ma, and continues into historic times with the most recent eruptions occurring at San Martín Tuxtla volcano in 1640 and 1793. Due to the historical occurrence of these eruptions, the volcano is considered hazardous. Although no casualties were derived from those eruptions, the population in the area has grown at a fast pace and a similar eruption occurring today would cause enormous social problems. According to INEGI, the country’s organism in charge of demographic studies, there are some 200,000 people settled 20 km around the volcano. Furthermore, since the volcanic field is basaltic, the magma’s transfer time from depth to surface is short, and volcanic eruptions such as that of 1793 occur without much warning time. These aspects point out to the need for an estimation of the effects of a similar eruption in our days. Espindola et al. (2010; JVGR, 197, 188-208) estimated the isopachs of the ash deposited during that eruption of 1793; we used these isopachs to the 1 cm contour to evaluate some of those effects. The 1 cm isopach spans an area of 541 km2 of which 385 km2 is grazing lands and plantations, more than 149 km² are covered by dense vegetation and 5 km² are occupied by settlements of various sizes. There are about 34 km of paved roads that are also the main communication access to the southern State of Veracruz. These figures are a basis for the estimation of the cost of the assistance to the region in case of an eruption and the elaboration of plan of contingency in case of eruption.