1. Case Study: Montserrat – 25th
July 1997
Where did it happen?The Soufriere Hills are located on the south of the
island of Montserrat in the Caribbean. The volcano is found on the
destructive boundary between the Caribbean plate and the Atlantic plate.
What happened?
1992-1994 – First earthquake swarms detected.
21 August 1995 – Phreatic eruptions.
1995-1996 – New dome grows on Chances Peak.
1996 – First pyroclastic flow moves down the Tar River valley creating a new delta in the sea.
25 July 1997 – Eruption of ash up to 40000 feet in the air with pyroclastic flows
Primary impacts Secondary impacts
E
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Two thirds of the island was
covered in ash destroying all
vegetation.
Forest fires from pyroclastic
flows.
Floods occurred when valleys
were blocked by ash.
E
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Tourism suspended
Farmland destroyed.
Flights to and from the Caribbean
and transatlantic flights were
cancelled.
Cost the UK £41 million of aid.
Unemployment rose to 50%.
70% rise in rent for
accommodation.
Collapse of industry.
More tourism after new airport
was built when people came to
see the volcano.
S
o
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l
19 people were killed.
The capital city Plymouth was
buried in more than 12m of mud.
Homes, hospitals and schools
were destroyed by pyroclastic
flows.
7000 people displaced from their
homes
Blackout on the Antigua for 3
days.
Unemployment rose to 50%.
Respiratory problems were caused
by ash.
Skills shortage

2. Immediate responses Long term responses
The south of the island from Plymouth to
the airport was evacuated
The capital city, Plymouth, was
abandoned.
The UK gave £41 million of aid
£2400 was given to individual to help
them move to other countries.
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory
(MVO) was set up to study the volcano
and provide warnings for the future.
Services in the north of the island were
expanded.
New roads and a new airport were built.
How was the hazard managed?The volcano was monitored and when phreatic eruptions began in
1995 the south of the island was evacuated and people were warned to stay inside. This prevented
many deaths as there were fewer people in Plymouth when the volcano erupted. This area has stayed
abandoned as the volcano continued erupting. The MVO was set up so the volcano could be
monitored to prevent any more deaths.