Lahar and Flood Control

Prepared by:

Aldamia, Ireneo Jr. D.

Flores, Mark Jemuel
Jimenez, Beverly
Pastores, Carmela Mae
Villegas, Eunice Joy T.
Lahar (Mudflows)
a. Definition of Lahar (Mudflows)
b. Compositions of Lahar
c. Possible causes of Lahar
Lahar
is an Indonesian term that
describes a hot or cold
mixture of water and rock
fragments that flows down
the slopes of a volcano and
typically enters a river valley.

References: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/lahars.html;
https://pt.slideshare.net/PandeyAman/hw-homework-
science-amanpptx-mmmm/7?smtNoRedir=1
Lahar
generally occur on or near
stratovolcanoes.

Stratovolcanoes is a tall, conical

volcano composed of one layer of hardened
lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. These
volcanoes are characterized by a steep profile
and periodic, explosive eruptions. The lava
that flows from them is highly viscous, and
Mt. Mayon, Albay (February 10, 2018)
cools and hardens before spreading very far.

References: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/lahars.html;
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/642879/phivolcs-
records-66-successive-lava-fountaining-episodes-in-mayon/story/
Lahar
are similar to pyroclastic
flow but contains more
water.
Pyroclastic flows contain a
high-density mix of hot lava blocks,
Pyroclastic flow spewing from
pumice, ash and volcanic gas. Mt. Pinatubo (June 17, 1992)

References:
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/hazards/primer/lahar.html;
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/pyroclastic_flows.html;
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/2z0li7/a_pic
kup_truck_flees_from_the_pyroclastic_flows/
Lahar
composed of a slurry of
pyroclastic material, rocky
debris and water.

Mt. Saint Helens after March 19, 1982 eruption

References: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/lahars.html;
https://www.britannica.com/science/lahar
Lahar
commonly grow to more than
10 times their initial size as
they move downslope and
can exceed speeds of 200
km/hr (120 mi/hr).
Mt. Saint Helens after March 19, 1982 eruption

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahar;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyroclastic_rock
Possible Causes of Lahar
1. Snow and glaciers can be melted by lava or pyroclastic surges during an
eruption.
2. Lava can erupt from open vents and mix with wet soil, mud or snow on the
slope of the volcano making a very viscous, high energy lahar. The higher
up the slope of the volcano, the more gravitational potential energy the
flows will have.
3. A flood caused by a glacier, lake breakout, or heavy rainfalls.
4. Water from a crater lake, combined with volcanic material in an eruption.
5. Heavy rainfall on unconsolidated pyroclastic deposits.
6. Volcanic landslides mixed with water.
Mt. Saint Helens after March 19, 1982 eruption

References:
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/hazards/primer/lahar.
html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahar
Philippine Volcanoes
a. List of Active Volcanoes in the Philippines
b. Historical Volcanic Eruptions in the Philippines
According to the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology (PHIVOLCS):

• 24 volcanoes are listed

as active
• 360 volcanoes are listed as
inactive
• 27 volcanoes are listed as
potentially active

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Lists of Active Volcanoes in the Philippines
1. Babuyan Claro 13. Isarong
2. Banahaw 14. Kanlaon
3. Biliran (Anas) 15. Leonard Kniaseff
4. Bud Dajo 16. Makaturing
5. Bulusan 17. Matutum
6. Cabalian 18. Mayon
7. Cagua 19. Musuan (Calayao)
8. Camaguin de bab 20. Parker
9. Didicas 21. Pinatubo
10. Hibok- Hibok 22. Ragang
11. Iraya 23.Smith
12. Iriga 24. Taal
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Babuyan Claro
Province Cagayan
City/Town Calayan
Eleveation 843m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Active
Askedna Hot Springs is
Activity located in the southern base
of the volcano.
Last
1917
Erruptions
Historic
1831, 1860, 1913
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Banahaw
Province Laguna
City/Town Quezon
Status Active
Last
1843
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Biliran
Province Biliran
City/Town Kawayan
Eleveation 1301m
Type Composite
Status Active
Activity Fumarolic, hot springs
Last
September 26, 1939
Erruptions
Historic
n/a
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Bud Dajo
City/Town Sulu
Status Active
Last
1897
Eruption/s

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Bulusan
Province Sorsogon
City/Town Irosin
Eleveation 1565m
Type Stratovolcano
Status ALERT !
Activity Steam
Last
Bulusan is on Alert Level 0
Erruptions
Historic
2010
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Cabalian
Province Southern Leyte
City/Town Ormoc City
Eleveation 900m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Active
Activity Solfatares, hot springs
Last
1820
Erruptions
Historic
Quaternary
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Cagua
Province Cagayan
City/Town Gonzaga
Eleveation 1133m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Strong solfataric activity in 1907.
Thermal areas are located near
Activity
the summit and NW to NNE
flanks.
Last
1860
Erruptions
Historic
n/a
Erruptions
Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Camiguin de Babuyanes
Province Cagayan
City/Town Calayan
Eleveation 712m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Fumarolic with thermal
Activity
springs.
Last
1857
Erruptions
Historic
n/a
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Didicas
Province Cagayan
City/Town Calayan
Eleveation 228m
Type Submarine/Dome
Status Active
Activity none
Last
1952
Erruptions
Historic
1773
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Hibok-Hibok
Province Camiguin
City/Town Catarman
Eleveation 1332m
Type Stratovolcano / dome complex
Status Active
Fumarolic with thermal
Activity
springs.
Last
1948 - 1953
Erruptions
Historic
1871
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Iraya
Province Batanes
City/Town Basco
Eleveation 1009m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Activity Seismic swarm in 1998.
Last
n/a
Erruptions
Historic
1454
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Iriga
Province Camarines Sur
City/Town City of Iriga
Eleveation 1143m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Active
Activity none
Historic
1628, 1642
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Isarog
Province Camarines Sur
City/Town Naga City
Eleveation 1966m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Activity Thermal springs
Last
n/a
Erruptions
Historic
n/a
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Kanlaon
Province Negros Occidental
City/Town Canlaon City
Eleveation 2435m
Type Stratovolcano
Status ALERT !
Activity Solfataric, hot springs
Last
Kanlaon is on Alert Level 2
Erruptions
Historic
1902, 1919
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Leonard Kniaseff
Province Compostela Valley
City/Town Maragusan
Eleveation 200m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Activity Strong thermal features
Last
n/a
Erruptions
Historic
120 AD ± 100 years
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Makaturing
Province Lanao del Sur
City/Town
Eleveation 1940m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Active
Activity Solfataric
Last
1882
Erruptions
Historic
1865, 1882
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Matutum
Province South Cotabato
City/Town Acmonan
Eleveation 2286m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Active
Fumarolic. Thermal springs in
Activity
Almoan and Linan.
Last 07 March 1911 (not
Erruptions confirmed), fumarolic
Historic
n/a
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Mayon
Province Albay
City/Town Legazpi
Eleveation 2462m
Type Stratovolcano
Status ALERT !
Fumarolic and solfatares.
Activity
Crater glow. Volcanic tremor.
Last
Mayon is on Alert Level 1
Erruptions
Historic
1616, 1766, 1814
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Musuan
Province Bukidnon
City/Town Valencia City
Eleveation 646m
Type Dome, Tuff cone
Status Active
Strong seismic swarm in 1976,
Activity
earthquakes
Last
1886
Erruptions
Historic
1866, 1867
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Parker
Province South Cotabato
City/Town General Santos City
Eleveation 1784m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Activity none
Last
1641
Erruptions
Historic
n/a
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Pinatubo
Province Pampanga
City/Town Angeles City
Eleveation 1486m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Active
Activity Fumarolic
Last
1991, 1993
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Ragang
Province Cotabato
City/Town Malabang
Eleveation 2815m
Type Stratovolcano
Status Potentially active
Activity none known
Last
1915,1916
Erruptions
Historic
1856, 1858
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Smith
Province Cagayan
City/Town Calayan
Eleveation 688m
Type Cinder cone
Status Potentially active
Activity Hot springs
Last
1924
Erruptions
Historic
1642
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Taal
Province Batangas
City/Town Tagaytay City
Eleveation 311m
Type Caldera
Status Active
Fumarolic and solfatares.
Activity
Volcanic tremor.
Last
Taal is on Alert Level 1
Erruptions
Historic
1572, 1911, 1965
Erruptions

Reference: https://www.silent-
gardens.com/philippines-volcanoes.php
Historical Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines

Mt. Pinatubo
• June 15, 1991
• second largest volcanic
eruption on Earth this
century
• This eruption deposited
more than 1 cubic mile (5
cubic kilometers) of
volcanic ash and rock
fragments on the
volcano's slopes.
Mt. Pinatubo
• Within hours, heavy rains
began to wash this material
down into the surrounding
lowlands in giant, fast-moving
mudflows called lahars.

• lahars carried about half of

the deposits off the volcano,
causing even more
destruction in the lowlands
than the eruption itself.
Pre-eruption Pinatubo

Reference: https://www.livescience.com/14476-photos-mount-
pinatubo-largest-volcanic-eruption.html
After Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo

Reference: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/232568768230237588/
Destructions caused by the Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo
Destructions caused by the Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo
Destructions caused by the Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo
Historical Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines

Mt. Mayon
• October 23, 1766 a
typhoon- induced lahar
kills 49 people when
deposits from the July
1766 eruption were
washed down from the
volcano.

NOTE: Not the actual photo of October 23, 1766 Eruption

Historical Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines

Mt. Mayon
• February 01, 1814 a
pyroclastic flow from a
plinian eruption razes
towns Cagsawa, Budiao,
Camaig, Albay, Guiobtan
and Balusan then
followed by rain- induced
lahars that buried homes
and the Cagsawa
Church killing 1,200.
Historical Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines

Mt. Mayon
• 1875, 100 dead from rain-triggered lahars from deposits of 1873 eruption.
• July 25, 1897, about 350 people died from hot glowing avalanches especially at the
town of libog and rain- induced lahars along Bulawan River.
• August and October 1968, Six People were killed from typhoon- induced lahars
(Gloring, Huaning, Iniang, Osang, and Paring) that flowed through the SE sector of the
volcano.
• July 30, 1981 at least 200 were killed when tropical depression Luming loosened lahars
from the 1978 eruption deposits.
• December 1981, more than 150 people were killed when typhoon Dinang (Lee)
mobilized more if the 1978 eruption deposits.
• October 1984, One dead from lahars from four typhoons that followed eruption.
Historical Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines

Mt. Mayon
• September 29, 2006-
Typhoon Milenyo
(Xangsane) mobilized
the 2000- 2003 eruption
deposits and sent lahars
to the village of Padang
destroying houses. No
deaths reported.
Historical Volcanic Eruption in the Philippines

Mt. Mayon
• With the 2000- 2003 eruption deposits
soaked by typhoons Milenyo
(Xangsane), Quenie (Chebi), and Paeng
(Cimaron), the powerful winds and rain
of Typhoon Reming (Durian) loosened
large and voluminous lahars and swept
down the volcano burying villages to
Sto. Domingo, Legazpi City, Guinobtan,
Camalig and Daraga killing 754 people
but official estimates of up to 1,200
fatalities.
Types of Lahar and Flood
Control Structures
❑Check Dams
❑Retaining Walls
❑Bunding
❑Gabion/Mattress Groynes
❑Paved Drains
❑Reservoirs
Check Dams
Check Dams
• These are small gravity dams, usually constructed with rocks
and mortar or concrete, of variable height and width.
• Constructed across a drainage ditch, swale, or channel to lower
the velocity of flow.
Swale- it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides.
Drainage ditch- is a man-made trench dug into the ground
near agricultural land in order for excess water to
pass through.
• Reduces erosion and gullying in the channel and allows
sediments to settle out.
Gully- a landform created by running water, eroding sharply
into soil, typically on a hillside.
Swale Drainage Ditch Gully
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
• Is a structure that are designed and constructed
to withstand lateral pressure of soil. They keep
soil that might otherwise collapse into an
additional form.
Bunding
Bunding
• Bunding is the general name used in Jamaica for
flexible structures of variable thickness and length,
composed of galvanized wire mesh, stone, wild-cane
and riverbed materials.
• Bunding is used to prevent bank erosion and landslips
and to protect agricultural lands from being flooded.
Gabion/Mattress Groynes
Gabion/Mattress Groynes
• These are long, flexible structures of variable
thickness, composed of wire and rocks.
• They are placed on the shaped banks of large,
fastmoving streams where severe erosion is occurring
and many pose a danger to permanent structures.
Paved Drains
1. Levees - are made of clay or earth fill material are being used with
some structural modifications and have proven quite effective. The
slopes of an earth fill levee should be no more than 2:1.
2. Flood Walls of reinforced concrete - require very little space and are
often used to protect cities and developed areas. They are costly to
construct, but involve minimal maintenance costs.
3. Channel Alterations - reduce floods by deepening and widening the
channel by cutting meanders. Sometimes these works can have
undesirable effects, by aiding the sediment transport process. Care
must be taken when channel alternatives are considered.
4. Detention Ponds - ponds placed on and off-side, can minimize the
damage to downstream structures by reducing peak flows. They should
be considered in the design of downstream protective structures.
Levees Flood Wall

Channel
Detention Pond
Reservoirs
• Reservoirs are one of the most direct methods of flood
control through storing surface runoff; thus, reducing the
force flood waves and storing flood water to be
redistributed without exceeding downstream flood
conditions.
Reservoirs