Yungay: Devastating Glacial Catastrophe in Peru! 🔍 #Peru #Andes #History
Yungay Disaster: 1970 Glacial Avalanche in Peru
A catastrophic glacial avalanche devastated the Peruvian town of Yungay in 1970.
The Devastating Event
Triggered by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake on May 31st, a colossal ice mass detached from Mount Huascarán, traveling at an estimated 200 kilometers per hour and carrying a significant volume of rock and debris.
The resulting avalanche engulfed the town, home to approximately 20,000 residents, resulting in widespread destruction and a substantial loss of life; only a small number of inhabitants survived.
The Aftermath
The 1970 Yungay disaster remains a significant event in Peruvian history and Andean natural disaster studies, highlighting the devastating power of glacial lake outburst floods and subsequent debris flows.
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