3. - usaid

Complete devastation from the
first explosive eruptions covered
about 4.6 square miles particularly
in the area between Tabacon
and Pueblo Nuevo, where nothing
is left but chumled up soil and
ash.
From July 31 to llugus t 3, only
minor ash and fwnerolic activity
was observed. mom August 3 to
around August 10 there was considerable
ash mi vapor emissions
tapering off to Ikmerolic activity
f'rom all three ofthe new craters
formed on the west side of the
mountain. Renewed explosions
One of countless craters formed by ex- occurred from September 14 to 19,
ploding "bombs" of white-hot blocks of when a new lower crater began to
lava. About 3 km. f'rom lower crater. spew forth thick viscous lava
which slowly descended into the
valley of the Quebrada Tabecon.
Beginning at a rate of 100 feet a day, by March, 1969, it had slowed to a
virtual standstill and extends about two miles from the crater. At the face,
the flow is approximately 984 feet wide and 100 feet thick.
Flowing over the area already
destroyed in the initial explosions,
the lava itself caused no
significant new damage. During
the time that the lava was
flowing, the Smithsonian
volcanologists warned the govermment
and people that Arenal
remained a dangerous volcano.
An area of 4.6 square miles
stretching in a fan shape f'rom
the west side of the mountain
was totally devastated and is
unusable and uninhabitable. The
other three sides of the mountain
and surrowding areas remain
untouched, except for ash fall
farther to the west.
Heavy ash fall was sustained all %act crater and damaged house .
the way to the town of Arenal, Volcano in background. Heavy ash deabout
8 miles west f'rom the posited during explosiorls on July 29
crater . and 30. Photo taken July 30, 1968.