Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects - Disaster Management Center ...

The first symptoms of unrest in the volcano were evident in April 1901. Earthquakes were
severe enough that people living on the western slope of La Soufriere became alarmed. Some
considered leaving the area, but the shocks ceased and the people resumed their normal
activities until in April 1902, when the shocks were again felt. By the first of May the inhabitants
on the leeward side of the volcano north of Chateaubelair had sought refuge elsewhere. If this
had not happened, the death toll of the eruption would have been much higher. Those living on
the windward side were not particularly disturbed and continued their activities as usual. It was
felt that in the event of an eruption the ash and gases would be carried towards the west by the
prevailing winds. When the great eruption occurred on May 7, few people were killed on the
leeward side (one report says only one) while 1,350 were killed in the windward side (other
estimates place the loss of life as high as 1,600).
The hot blast overturned trees, scorching them on the side facing the volcano, destroyed
houses, and set fire to inflammable objects. The hot ash, which fell in great quantities, killed all
vegetation and devastated an area comprising about one-third of the island. Red-hot stones up
to 15 centimeters (six inches) in diameter fell in Georgetown, nine kilometers (5.5 miles) from
the crater. The orientation of trees blown down revealed that the blast swept outward in all
directions from the crater.
At the end of the eruption La Soufriere still showed no signs of “dome” development and was
therefore considered capable of further destructive eruptions. 3
A minor eruption occurred in 1971, but St. Vincent Island was shaken by a violent eruption
again on April 14, 1979. This eruption sent stones raining down on parts of the island while a
cloud of smoke and ash blocked out the sun after the eruption just before noon. The state-run
radio reported that lava was coming from one side of the volcano’s crater. People in the
northern half of the island were told to head for the beaches where boats could take them to
safety. The eruption hurled ashes and smoke 6,100 meters (20,000 feet) into the air, showering
Barbados, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the east, with volcanic dust. Rumblings could be heard
as far away as Kingstown, more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the south.
Seven small explosions shook the volcano again on April 18. The explosions, at intervals of
only a few minutes, threw a small amount of ash and steam into the air north of the Larikai
Valley, where lava had poured down the volcano’s sides the day before following the eighth
violent eruption in five days.
On April 22 the volcano erupted intermittently for three hours, sending a column of ash more
than 11 kilometers (seven miles) into the air and shaking the earth with tremors.
The government evacuated the northern two-thirds of the island and cared for the 17,000
refugees until the volcano was declared quiet. 4
Jorullo, Mexico, 1759
The volcano Jorullo was born on September 29, 1759, in the midst of an area that was being
cultivated at the time. It is one of the best known volcanoes born during historic times.
Jorullo is located in western Mexico in the state of Michoacan, about 240 kilometers (150 miles)
west of Mexico City. The general elevation is about 750 meters (2,460 feet), and the climate is
tropical. The region is relatively inaccessible but can be reached by a truck road. At the time of
the eruption the Hacienda de Jorullo was one of three farms operated in the general area for the