Soufrière Hills

The Soufrière Hills volcano is an active stratovolcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. After being dormant for a long time, it became active in 1995. It has been active since then. Because of its eruptions, no one can live on the south half of Montserrat. The capital city, Plymouth, was destroyed. About two thirds of the population had to leave Montserrat. It had been showing signs of erupting for a long time before it did. When it did erupt, 19 out of the 23 people that remained burned to death because of the pyroclastic flow which was 400 °C (752 °F).

Soufrière Hills Media

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  Andesite erupted by Soufrière Hills volcano in 1997

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  Montserrat in British West Indies.

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  Volcanic ash (tuff) from Montserrat

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  Map of Montserrat, showing the exclusion zone following the eruption

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  2009 ash and steam plume, Soufrière Hills Volcano. Grey deposits that include pyroclastic flows and volcanic mudflows (lahars) are visible extending from the volcano toward the coastline. NASA ISS photo, 11 October 2009, a view from the northeast looking southwest

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  False colour satellite image of Soufrière Hills before and after a 2010 partial dome collapse. Red areas are living vegetation, grey areas are covered in volcanic debris