Page 41 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

18 Introduction

several scientists as well as tourists and with severe (Harris, 2006). More detailed accounts of hazards
injuries for the survivors. This makes it clear that associated with volcanic phenomena are described
even qualified and experienced scientists are not in Blong (1989; 2000), Myers and Brantley (1995),
safe from fatal accidents, as another tragic event has Chester et al (2001), Hill (2004), Myers et al (2004)
shown at Mt Unzen (Japan, June 1991) when 43 and Hansell et al (2006).
people, including volcanologists Katia and Maurice Even in areas of geothermal activity there is a
Krafft, Harry Glicken and 40 journalists and taxi possibility of hydrothermal eruptions and other
drivers perished in a pyroclastic surge that suddenly dangers, which can occur in any high-temperature
jumped over of ridge that was considered as safe. geothermal field but do not necessarily mean that
For untrained visitors to active volcanic areas even a volcano will erupt or has erupted in the
more so their inexperience or errors of judgement traditional way (Nairn, 2002). Only a small
can be the cause of serious accidents and injuries, minority of tourists may be aware of this factor
with personal risk assessment often built only on without adequate information. The frequency of
the basic information sought before travel. such explosions in geothermal areas is also
According to Rosi et al (2003) injuries happen difficult to estimate, although small eruptions are
regularly when people visit natural environments unlikely to cause more damage than creating
they are not familiar with and misjudge potential craters a few metres across (Christiansen et al,
dangers including the concentration of gas, thermal 2007). Nevertheless, in the case of tourists standing
activity, avalanches and falling rocks. Serious nearby, injuries can be expected. Larger
injuries are generally caused by going too close to hydrothermal eruptions, however, clearly represent
the action and not being ‘dressed for the occasion’. a threat to visitors of geothermal parks and their
The right footwear is very important when infrastructure (Christiansen et al, 2007). Some
visiting lava fields or other volcanic and geothermal accidents in geothermal areas can also result in
locations. Toxic emissions are a further danger; not thermal burns from stepping into extreme hot
every tourist is aware of chemical reactions which springs (Iceland Review, 2007), which has
take place, for example, when hot lava enters the happened to people hiking over unknown terrain.
ocean and reacts with seawater to form In Japan the popular Jigoku (Japanese for hells,
hydrochloric acid (HCl), which burns the skin usually featuring boiling ponds and steam vents)
and affects the respiratory system, in some cases are quite clear about what happens if visitors get
with a fatal outcome. HCl in the form of volcanic too close to extreme hot springs (Figure 1.3).
air pollution poses a local environmental hazard Finally, the increased interest in volcano and
along Hawai‘i’s coast to people who visit the sites
where lava flows enter the ocean (Sutton et al,
2000). Hydrogen sulphide (H S) is another
2
potentially lethal gas, an asphyxiant which affects
the respiratory system, and which can occur near
hot springs and volcanic vents. It is also common
that people venture out after dark to take photos
of glowing lava or strombolian activity and a
number of tourists lose their footing when they
focus their attention on volcanic activity instead
of where they put their feet (Erfurt-Cooper and
Heggie, 2008; Erfurt-Cooper, 2009).
As mentioned earlier, lahars pose a particular
danger as it does not take a volcanic eruption to
trigger these particular types of mudflows; heavy Figure 1.3 One of the ten Jigoku in Beppu on the southern
rain is sufficient to move loosely compacted volcanic island of Kyushu has a clear warning sign in Japanese and
debris, resulting in lahars that sweep down channels English, predicting the outcome of getting too close to one
of rivers and streams or down into secluded valleys of the boiling ponds.

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