FREE ESSAY ON MONTSERRAT: HILL OF FURY

MONTSERRAT: HILL OF FURY

A Hill of Fury:
Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat Island
After 400 years of quiet slumber, the Soufriere Hills volcano on the tiny island of
Montserrat in the Carribean Sea (Figure 1), came to life in the summer of 1997. The
eruptions threatened the original 11,000 residents of the island and even today continue
to be a nuisance to the remaining 4,000 people who refuse to leave the island, despite
warnings of impending danger. At least 20 people have already been killed, and several
villages destroyed. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory analyzes the active volcano and
provides information to scientists and residents of the island (Montserrat Volcano
Observatory 12). The worst of the eruption may or may not have already passed. 
Fig.2 Pyroclastic flows reached the Sea and formed a delta at the mouth of a major river
(Discovery 1). Residents of Montserrat face many potential dangers as a result of the
Soufriere Hills Volcano. A deadly combination of ash, rock, and hot gases form
pyroclastic flows which travel down the steep slopes of the volcano at speeds which are
often more than 100 miles per hour (Skurzinsky 39). Eruptions of Soufriere Hills in June,
August, and December of 1997 created pyroclastic flows which blasted toward the sea along
the White River at high speeds (Figure 2). Several villages were destroyed as a result.
The capital city, Plymouth, was burned to the ground, and then covered in volcanic rock
and ash (Figure 3). Twenty people were killed, despite evacuation attempts and warnings.
One Hundred seventy-five homes were destroyed and the flows came within 200 feet of the
airport (Williams 59). The monetary amount of the damage has not been calculated because
the destroyed towns are uninhabitable. Many people lost everything they had (Figure 4).
An excerpt from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory describes the situation shortly after
the eruption.
Fig.3 The evacuated capital city, Plymouth, burned in Aug. 1997, as a result of the
eruptions (National Geographic 1). "Pyroclastic flows from Soufriere Hills Volcano on
Montserrat have reached the capital city of Plymouth. Many homes and businesses can be
seen burning from several miles away. Fire fighters have been unable to stop these flames
which threaten to consume the entire city. Ashfalls occurred in Iles Bay, Ole Towne,
Salem, and several other areas west of the volcano (Montserrat Volcano Observatory 15)."
Fig.4 Plymouth was left buried in ash by pyroclastic flows in the summer of 1997
(Discovery 2). Fig.5 A Montserrat resident watches as the volcano erupts and spews ashes
over her town. Since the 1997 eruptions, villages near the volcano continuously
experience dangerous ash dusting whenever the volcano spits magma from beneath the
earth's surface. Sometimes, volcanic pebbles accompany the ash and can be dangerous as
they fall from the sky. Ash gets everywhere; It kills gardens, grass pastures, and makes
the roads slippery and dangerous for travel (Figure 5). In addition, breathing the
ash-filled air can, over time, contribute to silicosis, a deadly disease of the lungs.
The frequent earthquakes associated with the Soufriere Hills eruptions also pose a threat
to residents. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory reported that the probability of future
death is one in ten, or 10%. 
After the volcano reopened in 1997, a US geological team was sent to Montserrat, and the
Montserrat Volcano Observatory kicked into high gear. In order to properly monitor the
Soufriere Hills volcano, tiltmeters, seismometers, and gas analyzers were installed close
by. Simon Young, A British volcanologist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory commented
on the technology in place.
"There are five main areas of monitoring that we undertake. The first and really the
foundation of monitoring is recording the earthquakes that go on underneath the volcano,
and within the volcano, which are always associated with volcanic eruptions. We also have
an electronic instrument that tells us whether the volcano is tilting . . . , swelling,
or contracting . . . We collect samples from (the volcano) and . . . measure the gases
(Montserrat Volcano Observatory 19)."
Fig.6 Soldiers help residents evacuate the island in Aug. 1997 In addition to high tech
monitoring and constant calculations, authorities have distributed helmets and gas masks
to the 4,000 remaining residents. The helmets are to protect against airborne pebbles
flying from the volcano and pyroclastic flows. Gas masks are to ensure that residents
don't inhale too much ash during eruptions. People in immediate danger of pyroclastic
flows were evacuated and sent to other Carribean islands, Great Brittan, Canada, and the
United States (Figure 6). Evacuation efforts continue but some people just don't want to
leave their island (National Geographic 64).
The authorities on Montserrat have dealt with the danger of eruption well. The evacuation
process was very efficient. The remaining residents are somewhat protected from flying
objects, and inhalation of toxic gases and ash. As an authority of the island, I might
order the evacuation of the island completely and offer money for starting a new life to
those hesitant to leave. It may seem terrible to make them leave their homes, but some
have already died because they ignored evacuation warnings. The island is a danger zone
and it's almost impossible to predict the next big explosion. The threat of pyroclastic
flows is too great to risk human life. Montserrat has already killed and it could kill
again.
Bibliography
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