Volcanic Eruption Case Study

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  • Created by: Pi3.142
  • Created on: 02-04-17 12:58
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  • Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat Erupted 1997
    • Info
      • Date of Eruption: June 25th 1997
      • Death toll: 19 killed
    • Causes
      • 2) Magma rose up through weak points under the Soufrière hills, forming an underground pool of magma.
      • 3) The rock above the pool collapsed, opening a vent and causing the eruption.
    • Impacts
      • Primary
        • Large areas were covered with volcanic material - the capital city Plymouth was buried under 12m of mud and ash
        • Over 20 villages and two-thirds of homes on the island were destroyed by pyroclastic flows (fast-heated gas and ash)
        • Schools, hospitals, the airport and the port were destroyed
        • Vegetation and farmland were destroyed.
        • 19 people died and 7 were injured.
      • Secondary
        • Fires destroyed many buildings including government offices, the police headquarters and the town's central petrol station
        • Tourists stayed away and businesses were destroyed, disrupting the economy.
        • Population decline - 8000 of the island's inhabitants have left since the eruptions began in 1995.
        • Volcanic ash from the eruption has improved soil fertility.
        • Tourism on the island is now increasing as people come to see the volcano.
    • Responses
      • Immediate
        • People were evacuated from the south to safe areas in the north.
        • Shelters were built to house evacuees
        • Temporary infrastructure was also built, e.g. roads and electricity supplies
        • The UK provided £17 million of emergency aid (Montserrat is an overseas territory of the UK)
        • Local emergency services provided support units to search for and rescue survivors
      • Long-term
        • A risk map was created and an exclusion zone is in place. The south of the island is off-limits while the volcano is still active.
        • The UK has provided £41 million to develop the north of the island - new docks, an airport and houses have been built on the north.
        • The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been set up to try and predict future eruptions.

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