The Soufriere Hills Volcano began to erupt on July 18, 1995, and it has been erupting from then until the present time. There have been 5 active phases and 5 quiet phases so far. It is currently in a quiet phase that has continued since February 2010, the longest of the quiet phases seen during this eruption. During the quiet phases, there is no volcanic magma reaching the surface of the earth. When magma (molten rock under the ground) reaches the surface of the earth, it is called lava. The Soufriere Hills Volcano is a stratovolcano that is characterized by a very viscous (thick, sticky) type of lava, which comes out of the crater, solidifies as it cools, and piles up into large domes at the surface. The lava domes can be unstable and explosive. Magma is full of gases such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide and water vapor. The gas can become trapped within the volcano leading to a build-up of pressure which eventually results in an explosion. During such explosions, the dome is likely to collapse, and a large ash column will be sent into the atmosphere.

One of the major hazards of the Soufriere Hills volcano is the pyroclastic flows that occur during explosions and dome collapses. A pyroclastic flow is a thick heavy cloud of super-heated gas mixed with ash that follows the terrain under gravity, often channeling its way through the valleys at a tremendous speed. Pyroclastic flows have been the most destructive and deadly feature of the eruption.

On June 25, 1997, there was a major dome collapse resulting in pyroclastic flows which destroyed many villages in the east of the island, and which tragically killed 19 people.

As mentioned before, explosions will propel ash (fine particles of volcanic rock) thousands of feet into the atmosphere. The ash falls back to the ground under gravity. While much of it is usually carried by the wind some distance away from the volcano, some often falls on Montserrat’s landscape. Large quantities of ash would make life very difficult on island. It destroyed crops. It would pile up on roof tops making them very heavy. If the ash is not cleaned from the roofs, they may collapse. It is also corrosive and destructive to machines and computers. It rests on everything, making it gritty and dirty. People would have to cover their noses and mouths with dust masks when they were outside. They would shut all the doors and windows to keep the ash out of their homes and businesses. But nothing really could keep it out completely. Some people with asthma or allergies suffered.

Montserrat’s residents were evacuated from the areas around the volcano in 1996. It caused a great deal of hardship on island and more than half of population migrated overseas. Every family and business that evacuated had to rebuild in the north of the island. Many people lost all their property and possessions. Nowadays, life continues as normal in the north of the island. People follow guidelines set out by MVO that tell people the most dangerous areas. Access is restricted to Zone V, the area near the volcano which is in danger of possible dome collapse.