Volcanic Hazards-Soufriere Hills Flashcards
Location of Soufriere Hills Volcano
Is in Montserrat, a small island in the Caribbean Sea. Montserrat is above a destructive plate margin, where the North American plate is being forced under the Caribbean plate.
About Eruptions
Between June and September 1997 there was a series of large eruptions. In the largest eruption, about 4-5 million m³ of material was released over a 20 minute period. Pyroclastic flows covered several square kilometres. The eruptions also produced large ash clouds
Economic Impacts
The total loss in value of people’s homes and investments was estimated to be about £1 billion.
Over 20 villages and two-thirds of homes on the island were destroyed by pyroclastic flows.
Tourists stayed away, and businesses were destroyed, disrupting the economy. However, tourism on the island is now increasing as people come to see the volcano.
Schools, hospitals, the airport and the port were destroyed.
Social Impacts
19 people died and seven were injured.
Hundreds of people lost their homes.
Fires destroyed many buildings, e.g. local government offices, the police headquarters and petrol stations.
The population has declined 8000 of the island’s 12 000 inhabitants left after the eruption, and many still haven’t returned.
Environmental Impacts
Large areas were covered with volcanic material - the capital city Plymouth was buried under 12 m of mud and ash.
Vegetation and farmland were destroyed.
Volcanic ash from the eruption has improved soil fertility.
Emergency Services- response
People were evacuated from the south to safe areas in the north.
Shelters were built to house evacuees.
Temporary infrastructure was also built, e.g. roads and electricity supplies.
Local emergency services provided support units to search for and rescue survivors.
Aid-response
The UK provided £17 million of emergency aid (Montserrat’s an overseas territory of the UK)
The UK has provided £41 million of long-term aid to develop the north of the island- new docks, an airport and houses have been built with this
preparation/mitigation
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 intermittently active.
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory has been set up to try and predict future eruptions.
