Montserrat (LIC) Soufriere Hills/Chance's Peak Volcano Flashcards
The eruption
Thick, viscous dome of lava formed
Most gas already escaped but some remained in pockets
April 1996 South of island evacuated
25th June 1997 dome collapsed = 5 million cubic metres pyroclastic flow, 100mph, 400*C
Lahars from heavy rainfall (tropical storms/hurricanes)
Ash/tephra
Continued even in Sept 2000
Impacts
19 killed
•had returned to homes in danger zone•
Plymouth (capital) 3 miles from crater = destroyed
2/3 houses buried by ash/rocks
Ash plume extended 90 miles - Antigua
Long term impacts
Top heavy population pyramid (younger evacuated)
Breathing difficulties/lung disease e.g. Silicosis
Unemployment 7-50%
70% rise in rent - shortage of available building land
Skills shortage
Positive impacts
Fertile soil
Tourist industry recovering with people coming to see
- 1998 $13 million
Immediate responses
1995 Montserrat Volcano Observatory - successfully predicted eruption 1997
5000 evacuated as precaution August 1995
NGOs e.g. Red Cross = temporary schools/medical support and food
Warning systems set up to alert inhabitants - sirens/speaker systems/media
£10million funding from British government
•met with rioting/despair•
= £75million over 3 years
Montserrats Country Policy Plan
Little Bay Port - replace facilities lost in Plymouth
St Johns hospital - main island hospital
Water supplies in North
Increased air access
$17million - housing
Background
Volcano dominates island 12km by 8km
Had lain dormant for 400 years
Destructive subduction zone
N American under Caribbean
Strato volcano with consolidated ash layers from previous eruptions
