Escaping Mount Pinatubo
On June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted on Luzon, an island in the
Philippines. The volcano left behind a deadly blanket of lava and volcanic
ash. Casey Kline interviewed her mother, Cora Kline, who lived on Luzon.
Casey Kline: What was it like to see a volcano erupt?
Cora Kline: It was scary. At first, powerful earthquakes began shaking the
ground. As the volcano was erupting, it was spitting thick ashes into the air.
Then volcanic ashes began falling on everything. Around noon, it was dark
like midnight. We didn't see the sun until 6 a.m. the next day. I heard
thunder and saw lightning on that long, dark "night." Volcanic tremors shook
my apartment. There was no electricity. Fortunately, we still had running
water.
Casey: Could you see any lava?
CK: No. I lived near Subic Bay, which is about 20 miles away from the
volcano.
Casey: What did you see the next day?
CK: I saw devastation and collapsed buildings from the thick ash on the
roofs. Many people were injured.
Casey: What was it like with so many volcanic ashes?
CK: The ashes were knee-deep. It was hard to walk, and it was hard to
breathe. The ashes would stick to your hair and your skin ... everything! I
asked my sister to go to the post office, and she came home covered head
to toe in ashes! Motor vehicles and bicycles couldn't get through. It took
months to clean up.
Casey: Was it hard to buy food after the eruption?
CK: Yes. Some stores were open, but the prices doubled. There were very
long lines at the grocery stores!
Casey: Why didn't you evacuate?
CK: I believed I lived far enough away from the volcano that I wouldn't be
affected that much. As long as the lava couldn't harm me, I would stay.