Monserrat - Volcanic Eruption

• Monserrat is a small island in the Carribean, which is still a British Colony.
• It is mountaneous and wooded, named 'The Emerald Island'.
• It's capital is Plymouth.
• The inhabitants are quite poor and live in small villages; they practice subsistence farming.

• Before the eruption; 12,000 people (50%) lived in the capital city.
• In July 1995 the Southfire Hills erupted for the 1st time in 350 Years.
• 50% of the inhabitants were evacuated.
• In April 1996 eruptions continued...
• In June 1997 another eruption destroyed villages in the island centre - 23 people died.

Primary; Immediate impact - death, loss of homes, crops or animals.

• Villages were destroyed; people lost lives, homes and livestock.
• Plymouth was evacuated therefore unpopulated and became 'A Ghost Town.'
• Of 40square miles only 15, in the North were safe for people to be evacuated to: The North was much less developed than the South.

Secondary; After effects - loss of trade, tourism, need to rebuild and high stress levels.

• People were stranded in the North as there was little communication and transport.
• Tourism stopped, other industries became restricted.
• It relied heavily upon support from London, as people became more anxious rioting began.
• People were living in 'make-shift' houses.
• The airport closed.
• Loss to the economy restricted trade.
• (Poor sanitation and health leads to spread in diseases such as Cholera).

Short Term Effects:

• Aid was sent.
• Homes and areas of land were lost.
• Plymouth was destroyed.
• Britain was relied upon for aid.
• People over 18 recieved £2400 to stay in Monserrat.
• £41m of aid was offered for relocation of refugees and redevelopment.

Medium/Long Term Effects:

• The rebuilding and redevelopment of the areas and settlements.