LEDC volcano case study >>> Chances Peak

Chances Peak - Montserrat

Date: July 1995-1997

Location: Montserrat, Caribbean

Causes: Subduction of the Atlantic Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate

Primary Impacts:

• 2/3 of the island had an ash coverage of up to 10m
• 23 deaths
• Floods from blocked rivers
• Pyroclastic flow caused forest fires
• Towns, buildings and farmland destroyed

Secondary Impacts:

• Half the population moved away from the island
• The South of the island was uninhabitable
• Tourism has declined due to fear of another eruption
• The capital became deserted

• Evacuation from danger areas

• Seclusion zones set up to prevent injuries

• A new capital was made because Plymouth (the old capital) was too close to Chances Peak

• Loaned money from the British Government to help rebuild

• Volcano observatory set up to try to predict future eruptions