Remnant of a building in Francisco Leon that was destroyed by
pyroclastic flows and surges during the eruption of El Chichon volcano
in southeastern Mexico between March 29 and April 4, 1982. Francisco
Leon was located about 5 km SSE of the volcano. The reinforcement rods
in the concrete wall are bent in the direction of flow (right to left).
Several pyroclastic surges swept down all sides of the volcano,
reaching as far as 2 to 8 km from the volcano; pyroclastic flows
represent only about 30 percent of the total combined mass of surges
and flows. In addition to Francisco Leon, eight other villages were
destroyed, claiming the lives of up to 2,000 people.
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