Montserrat – Volcano
The Soufriere Hills contains a volcanic area called Chances Peak, in the Southern part of the
Island. The volcano had been dormant for over 300 years but started to erupt on the 18 th of July
1995. It started with warning signs of small earthquakes and eruptions of dust and ash.
Following this Chances Peak remained active for five years. The most violent and intense eruptions
occurred in 1997.
Between 1995 and 1997 Montserrat was devastated by pyroclastic flows. The small population of the
island (11,000 people) was evacuated in 1995 to the north of Montserrat as well as to neighbouring
islands and the UK.
19 people were killed by the eruptions as a small group of people chose to stay behind to watch over
their crops.
Volcanic eruptions and Lahars (volcanic mudflows) have destroyed large areas of Montserrat. The
capital, Plymouth, has been covered in layers of ash and mud. Many homes and buildings have been
destroyed, including the only hospital, the airport and many roads. The airport was buried by Lahars
on 11 February 2010
Short-term responses
1. Large scale evacuation by the British Navy
2. Abandonment of the capital city, Plymouth
3. Compensation and redevelopment money donated by the UK government
4. Unemployment rose due to the collapse of the tourist industry.
5.
Long-term responses
1. An exclusion zone was set up in the volcanic region. This extends from the south coast of the
island and was imposed because of the size of the existing volcanic dome and the resulting
potential for pyroclastic activity.
2. A volcanic observatory was built to monitor the volcano. It has been relatively quiet since
2010
3. New roads and a new airport were built.
4. Services in the north of the island were expanded.
5. The presence of the volcano resulted in a growth in adventure tourism.
6. Out migration - in 1998 the people of Montserrat were granted full residency rights in the
United Kingdom, allowing them to migrate if they chose. British citizenship was granted in
2002. People have returned to the island more recently.