Case Study- 2010 Mount Merapi, Indonesia.

• Primary and Social Impacts:

  • 353 deaths.
  • Injuries and illnesses e.g. sulphur dioxide gas caused skin irritation and breathing problems.
  • damage to over 19,000 homes and properties.
  • displacement of 350,000 people.
• Primary and Economic Impacts:

  • losses of £450 million due to impact on farming and tourism.
  • destruction of property and infrastructure e.g. 30 bridges damaged.
  • disruption of trade and economic activities e.g. 2500 flights cancelled.
• Primary and Environmental Impacts:

  • destruction of biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems e.g. over 200 hectares of forest damaged.
  • poor air and water quality.
• Primary and Political Impacts:

  • pressure on govt to co-ordinate emergency response.
  • social unrest, looting and political instability.
• Secondary and Social Impacts:

  • nearly 1/2 of people affected by eruption suffered mental health issues.
  • disruption to services such as healthcare and education.
  • disruption to religious and traditional practices.
• Secondary and Economic Impacts:

  • food prices increased due to destruction of crops and livestock.
  • slower economic growth and development due to closure or relocation of businesses, decline in tourism, damage to crops etc.
  • e.g. tourism feel by 30% (domestic tourists) and 70%(intenrational tourists).
• Secondary and Environmental Impacts:

  • acid rain damaged ecosystems.
  • long-term pollution of land and rivers.
• Secondary and Political Impacts:

  • conflicts over govt response to food shortage e.g. some residents claimed that the compensation scheme was inadequate and unfair.