The Restless Earth- Montserrat

Location: Chances Peak on Montserrat, a small island in the Caribbean.

Date of Eruption: June 25th 1997, small eruptions since 1995.

Cause of eruption:

- On a destructive plate boundary, Atlantic plate forced under the Caribbean plate.

- Weak points in the crust allowed magma to rise up and form an underground pool.

- The above rock collapsed opening a vent causing the eruption of 4-5 million m³.

Primary Impacts: - 19 people dead and 7 injured.

- Large areas, including the captial Plymouth, covered with layers of mud and ash.

- Over 20 villages and 2/3 of homes destroyed by pyroclastic flows.

- Schools, hospitals and the airport destroyed.

- Vegetation and farmland destroyed.

Secondary Impacts: - 2/3 of the inhabitants have moved away since the eruptions began.

- Fires destroyed petrol stations and government/ police buildings.

- Tourists put off visiting, destroying businesses and damging the economy.

- Volcanic ash has improved the soil fertility.

- Tourism increasing, as they come to visit the active volcano.

Immediate Responses:

- People evacuated from south to the north.

- Shelters built for evacuees.

- Temporary roads built.

- UK gave £17 million of emergency aid.

- Local emergency services provided search and rescue teams.

Long-Term Responses:

- Exclusion zone created in the south while the volcano is still active.

- UK provided £41 million to develop the north, including an airport and housing.

- Montserrat Volcano Observatory set up to predict eruptions.