RISK ASSESSMENT OF A SCHOOL EXPOSED TO COTOPAXI VOLCANIC HAZARD

This study evaluates the School Safety Index (SSI) in the Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre School, located within the high-risk influence zone of the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador. The objective is to assess the school’s structural, non-structural, and organizational safety conditions to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize interventions that reduce the impact of a potential volcanic eruption. The analysis employs the official SSI methodology adapted for Latin American educational institutions and includes reliability and validation procedures for on-site measurements (double-observer verification, photographic evidence, and cross-checks with institutional records). Weighting factors (10%, 10%, 40%, 24%, 16%) follow the standardized SSI framework, derived from expert consensus in regional safety assessments, reflecting the proportional contribution of each safety dimension to overall risk reduction. Results reveal low to moderate compliance levels in key categories, particularly social and functional components. The study contributes to existing SSI research by applying the method to a volcanic environment (an area with limited academic applications) while contextualizing indicators for high-risk Andean settings. Recommendations include improvements in emergency planning, structural review, and hazard-specific preparedness.