Soufrière Hills eruption 1995 -1998

Question 1

Montserrat background information

Answer 1

Population: 8,235 (1995)
Population density: 82 per km²
Territory of Great Britain: GDP per capita of $8,253 (199%) life expectancy of 72.17 years (1995)

Question 2

Date and location

Answer 2

Date: July 18th 1995 with continued eruption until 1998
Location: British territory in the Caribbean sea 40 km South West of Antigua

Question 3

Eruption information

Answer 3

Plates: Atlantic plate subducting the Caribbean plate
Magnitude: 4 (VEI)
Duration: 1995 - 1998 however the majority of the island is still uninhabitable (for example the capital - Plymouth has been completely abandoned)

Question 4

Social impacts

Answer 4

19 killed
5,000 forced to temporarily live in shelters for 2 years
Plymouth completely buried in ash
Half the population abandoned the island
Lahars destroyed farms

Question 5

Economic impacts

Answer 5

70% increase in rent
Unemployment rate rose from 7% to 50%
GDP decreased by 37% from 1996 to 2000

Question 6

Governance

Answer 6

British government detected seismic activity prior to the eruption allowing them to create exclusion zones on the southern part of the island and hazard maps. This reduced the death toll as those killed refused to evacuate these areas.
British Government provided £75 million in financial support over 3 years for redeveloment
British government offered all adult residents £2400 to help with relocation

Question 7

Summary

Answer 7

It could be argued that the areal extent of the eruption in relation to the island is the most significant factor at play here as the fact that it has rendered much of the island uninhabitable has ruined thousands of people’s livelihoods. It can be argued that the governance was inadequate as exclusion zones should’ve been mre heavily enforced to prevent all deaths.