Montserrat Volcano

When did the eruption occur?

July 18 1995, after up to 300 years of dormancy

What is the tectonic setting of this volcano?

Located on a subduction zone, with the NA plate being subducted

Background information about the island

Very densely populated

62% relied on agricultural industries by 1995

How much property was damaged?

2/3 of all houses on the island were destroyed by ash or flattened by tephra. 7 whole villages were also destroyed.

What happened to the soil and vegetation?

Soil was baked hard by the hot ash and rendered infertile still. Pyroclastic flows destroyed vegetation also.

How many people were injured?

Over 100

What happened to Plymouth?

Buried under 12m of ash and mud, still uninhabitable.

Population decrease statistics?

1995 - 12,000

2001 - 1,500 (most moved to UK due to strong links with its former coloniser)

Issues with the economy following the disaster?

- Housing rents went up 70%

- Fear of over dependance on the UK

- Unemployment 50%+

- Tourism destroyed (volcano tourism begins)

How many people evacuated?

5,000 evacuated to the safe zone and British navy evacuated 4,000 to nearby Antigua

What initiatives did the UK put forward?

Offered £2500 to relocate to UK, sent £41 million in relief aid and £75 million in long term development.

New infrastructure following the disaster?

- New roads and airport built

- Volcanic observatory built to monitor it

- Services in the north were expanded