Eruption of Soufriere Hills
Montserrat Home History of Montserrat Current Montserrat
Hazards associated with Soufriere Hills Governmental Issues
| Scientists first started
monitoring volcanic activity on the island of Montserrat in January of
1992, more than three years before the first eruption. In 1992
earthquake swarms were measured, and in 1994 a much larger swarm
occurred. These earthquakes were the first stage of the pre-eruptive
activity.
The actual eruption of Soufriere Hills began on July 18, 1995 with steam and ash venting from the northwest crater. More vents opened in the following days, and on August 21 a large eruption covered the capital, Plymouth, with a thick ash cloud. Shortly after this event the first evacuation of southern Montserrat was initiated. There was noticeable dome growth in September, 1995, which was followed by mud flows along the southeastern slope of the volcano. In 1996 there were pyroclastic flows caused by dome collapse. The first magmatic explosions occurred in September of 1996 which destroyed homes due to falling rock and pumice, and covered the southern part of the island with over 600,000 tons of ash. The MVO website has a detailed list of the chronology of the Soufriere Hills eruption beginning in January, 1992 and going until July, 1997. It gives specific dates and events taking place at Soufriere Hills. |