Soufriere Hills Volcanic Eruption

Created by: bexyboo16
Created on: 14-04-16 20:22


	Soufriere Hills Volcanic Eruption
	Causes Montserrat is above a destructive plate margin, where the Atlantic plate is being forced under the Caribbean plate. Magma rose up through weak points under the Soufriere Hills forming an underground pool of magma. The rock above the pool collapsed, opening a vent and causing the eruption.	Effects 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. Schools, hospitals, the airport and the port were destroyed. Vegetation and farmland were destroyed. 19 people died and 7 were injured. Fires destroyed many buildings including local 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 12,000 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.
	Overall summary People were evacuated from the south to safe areas in the north. Shelters were built to house evacuees. Temporary infrastructure was also built. The UK provided £17 million of emergency aid. Local emergency services provided support units to search for and rescue survivors. 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 in the north. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been set up to try and predict future eruptions.

Soufriere Hills Volcanic Eruption

Causes

Montserrat is above a destructive plate margin, where the Atlantic plate is being forced under the Caribbean plate.
Magma rose up through weak points under the Soufriere Hills forming an underground pool of magma.
The rock above the pool collapsed, opening a vent and causing the eruption.

Effects

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.
Schools, hospitals, the airport and the port were destroyed.
Vegetation and farmland were destroyed.
19 people died and 7 were injured.
Fires destroyed many buildings including local 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 12,000 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.

Overall summary

People were evacuated from the south to safe areas in the north. Shelters were built to house evacuees. Temporary infrastructure was also built. The UK provided £17 million of emergency aid. Local emergency services provided support units to search for and rescue survivors. 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 in the north. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been set up to try and predict future eruptions.

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Soufriere Hills Volcanic Eruption