Impact assessment of the May 2010 eruption of Pacaya volcano, Guatemala

Abstract

This report summarises field observations and interpretations from a September 2010 reconnaissance trip to Guatemala investigating the impacts of the 27 May 2010 eruption of Pacaya volcano, ~30 km SSW of Guatemala City. The eruption was of particular interest for its parallels with a potential Auckland Volcanic Field eruption's consequences for Auckland. A major tropical storm arrived immediately after the eruption, providing an opportunity to study interaction between two co-occurring natural disasters; the report focuses on tephra fall impacts on Guatemala City's drainage network, hospitals, electricity and water supplies, and the international airport.