US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR2734

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002734 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SAN JOSE FOR USAID/OFDA PHIL GELMAN AND TIM CALLAGHAN; 
DEPARTMENT FOR USAID/OFDA: ROB THAYER; KINGSTON/BRIDGETOWN 
PLEASE PASS TO OFDA DIRECTOR; GENEVA FOR NKYLOH AND 
UN/OCHA, IFRCS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR, EAID, ES 
SUBJECT: DISASTER DECLARATION FOR VOLCANIC ERUPTION AND 
FLOODING IN EL SALVADOR 
 
1. EL SALVADOR IS SIMULTANEOUSLY EXPERIENCING TWO NATURAL 
DISASTER EVENTS. THE SANTA ANA VOLCANO WHICH HAS BEEN 
SEISMICALLY ACTIVE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS ERUPTED ON 
SATURDAY MORNING OCTOBER 1, 2005 SPEWING TONS OF SULFURIC 
GAS EMISSIONS AND ROCK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THE INCIDENT 
RESULTED IN TWO DEATHS AND THE IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF 
UPWARDS OF SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO WERE LOCATED WITHIN 4 
KILOMETERS OF THE VOLCANO.  ADDITIONALLY, THE COUNTRY HAS 
ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING BOTH HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING. THE 
CONTINUOUS RAINS HAVE BOTH SATURATED THE SOIL WHICH HAS 
CAUSED NUMEROUS LANDSLIDES RESULTING IN 37 DEATHS SO FAR 
AND THOUSANDS OF ADDITIONAL EVACUEES BEING HOUSED IN 
SHELTERS. THIS HAS ALSO LED TO MAJOR DISRUPTIONS TO THE 
NATION'S TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND IT HAS SWELLED THE 
NATIONS RIVERS WHICH COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL MAJOR 
FLOODING AND THUS THE EVACUATION OF THOUSANDS OF MORE 
PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS IF THERE IS NO BREAK 
IN THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. 
2.  IN RESPONSE TO THESE EVENTS, THE ACTING CHIEF OF 
MISSION HAS DETERMINED THAT THE DISASTER IS OF SUFFICIENT 
MAGNITUDE TO WARRANT U.S. GOVERNMENT (USG) ASSISTANCE AND 
THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF EL SALVADOR WILL ACCEPT THE 
ASSISTANCE. 
3.  THE ACTING CHIEF OF MISSION IS EXERCISING HIS DISASTER 
ASSISTANCE AUTHORITY AS PER 2 FAM sections 060,061 and 
062. AND REQUESTS THAT USAID/OFDA PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF 
USD 50,000. 
4:  FUNDS WILL BE CHANNELED THROUGH A NON GOVERNMENTAL 
ORGANIZATION TO BE DETERMINED AND THE USE OF THE FUNDS 
WILL ALSO BE DETERMINED WITHIN THE NEXT TWENTY FOUR HOURS. 
5.  MISSION WILL KEEP OFDA INFORMED OF THIS DISASTER AND 
MAY REQUEST ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD THE NEEDS 
JUSTIFY. 
 
BUTLER