Montserrat

• What warning signs were observed in 1995?

  Earthquakes and small eruptions
• What hazards followed the eruption?

  Pyroclastic flow and lahars
• What were the economic impacts of the Soufriere Hills volcano eruption?

  • Most buildings in Plymouth destroyed
  • £1 billion in losses
  • Many businesses destroyed
  • Exclusion zone affected fishing industry
• What were the social impacts of the Soufriere Hills volcano eruption?

  • 19 people died from lava dome collapse
  • 2/3 of homes destroyed, widespread homelessness
  • 70% of population left by 1998
  • 50% of water supplies destroyed
  • No universities left, limiting education
  • Ash caused respiratory problems
• What were the environmental impacts of the Soufriere Hills volcano eruption?

  • Vegetation and farmland destroyed
  • 60% of the island unsafe for habitation
  • Ash improved soil fertility
• What was the preparedness situation before the eruption?

  • UK government unaware of volcano
  • No emergency plans in place
  • No evacuation after 1995 warning signs
• What were the immediate responses to the eruption?

  • Evacuation from South to North
  • Temporary infrastructure built
  • £17 million in aid from the UK
• What were the long-term responses to the eruption?

  • No long-term contingency plan
  • £41 million in long-term aid for North
  • New hospital adapted from a school
  • Ports and airports reopened
• The eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat began in 1995.
• Location: Soufrière Hills Volcano is located in the southern part of Montserrat, a small island in the Lesser Antilles, part of the Caribbean.
• Timeline of Events

  • Start: The eruption began in July 1995 after a long period of dormancy (the volcano had not erupted for several centuries).
  • Major Activity: The most catastrophic eruption occurred in June 1997, producing pyroclastic flows that destroyed the capital, Plymouth, and killed 19 people.
  • Ongoing Activity: Volcanic activity has continued intermittently, with phases of dome growth, collapse, and pyroclastic flows, though it has significantly reduced since the late 2000s.
• Human Impact:

  • Approximately two-thirds of the island's population (around 11,000 people) were forced to evacuate, many permanently relocating to other countries.
  • Plymouth, the island’s capital and economic center, was buried under pyroclastic material and is now an abandoned exclusion zone.
• Mitigation and Monitoring

  • The Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) was established to monitor the volcano and issue warnings.
  • An exclusion zone was set up around the southern part of the island to protect residents from volcanic hazards.