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Peru Earthquake, Philippines Volcano Eruption And California Mudslides: A Week In Review

This article is more than 6 years old.

This past week has seen several significant natural disasters: from evacuations due to a rumbling Philippine volcano eruption to a deadly earthquake in Peru to wildfires and mudslides in California. Here we recap Earth's major natural disasters for the past week.

A Deadly Earthquake Strikes Peru

On Sunday morning a deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of southern Peru, according to the USGS. The earthquake epicenter was located 40 kilometers southwest of the coast of Peru, nearby Acari, Peru at a depth of 36.3 kilometers.

The earthquake left one person dead and dozens injured as infrastructure collapsed due to the shaking. Local authorities feared the earthquake may have damaged some of the many copper mines in the prolific copper mining region of Peru. However, there were no reports of damage to mines or trapped miners.

Damage to roads and homes were the most common and made emergency response difficult in the affected regions. Despite the earthquake originating in the ocean, there was no tsunami produced from the earthquake.

Earthquakes are common in Peru, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Acari, Peru lies in a tectonically active region where the Nazca plate is sliding beneath the South American plate. This active intersection of oceanic and lithospheric plates causes active volcanism and earthquakes. This same process has uplifted the Andes Mountains and produced pervasive faults along the west coast of South America.

Mounting Eruptions From Mount Mayon Volcano In The Philippines

There is an ongoing threat from Mount Mayon, which is threatening a dramatic eruption nearby the city of Legazpi in the Philippines. Mount Mayon is the most active volcano in a string of active volcanoes within the Philippines and signs point to a recent awakening of activity within the volcano.

Lava began to flow from the volcano after recent relatively small series of eruptions sent ash and rock into the air. This prompted the Philippine government to issue an evacuation, warning that the volcano could see a major eruption in the coming days to weeks. This came as the government raised a level 3 alert, noting a "tendency for a hazardous eruption."

There is in place a 7-kilometer danger zone where nearly 1,000 families have been evacuated to shelters. Thankfully, thus far there have been non-explosive eruptions which could potentially help to let off built up pressure within the volcano's magma chamber(s).

California Contains Thomas Fire As Mudslides Kill At Least 20

California can't catch a break, just as it contains the Thomas Fire, the largest fire in California's modern history, it sees deadly mudslides. The death toll for mudslides has risen to 20 as portions of highway 101 remain closed and rescue workers look through thick mud and boulders in Montecito, California.

The largest wildfire in California's modern history left the area vulnerable to mudslides as charred vegetation and trees could no longer stabilize the soil with their roots. The bare hillsides made it all but inevitable that a heavy rainfall would produce mudslides. The mudslides destroyed 65 homes and damaged many more as slurries of mud, debris, and boulders came flowing down the hillsides.

Four people still remain missing in the Montecito community, including the 2-year-old daughter of the latest victim found. Rescue work is hindered by the hardening of mud as it desiccates and solidifies.

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