Monserrat Volcano
Background Information
Primary Impacts
Secondary Impacts
Responses/Mitigation
British Overseas Territory located in Caribbean
Lies on a subductive destructive plate boundary and island arc
Covered the capital in pyroclastic flows
Volcano in Soufriere Hills dormant for 300 years
Capital evacuated
Killed 19 people in an officially evacuated village
2/3 of island covered in ash
1/2 of population evacuated to the north to live in shelters
Ash blocked valleys causing floods
Airport and port destroyed
Farmland and forest destroyed by pyroclastic flows
2/3 of island uninhabitable due to evacuation zone
The north had few services causing difficulties with the influx of people
70% rise in rent for accomodation
Damaged reefs and reduced fish density
Collapse of tourist and rice production industries
Unemployment at 50%
New town and port built at Little Bay
GDP fell by 36.9%
British invested £400 million in aid
Exclusion zone from south coast to Belham Valley
Warning sirens tested daily at 12 noon
Risk assessment to help islanders understand which areas are at most risk
UK government offered each adult £2400 to help with relocation
Potential for geothermal energy and export volcanic sand for construction
Private ferry service operates from Antigua due to the new airport being small. The resulting isolation allows a more pristine environment to be maintained.
In 2015, a regional cruise line began making stops in Monserrat
Fertile soil can be used again for cash crops e.g. cotton
Island is16km long, 11km wide
Eruption
1992 - Small earthquakes
1997 - Most intense eruptions
1995 - Eruptions of dust and gas lasting for 5 years, volcano is andesitic with dome growth and collapse leading to flows
More than 1/2 the population left the island