Once called The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, Montserrat is now known as a modern-day Pompeii. On July 18, 1995, out of the blue, Chances Peak, a majestic mountain in its day and part of the Souffrière Hills volcano, sprung to life. In a flash, the lives of Montserrat’s 13,000 residents changed forever. Over 39 feet of mud and ash devastated the southern part of the island, causing widespread evacuations, destroying the capital city Plymouth and making half the island uninhabitable. Eruptions have continued ever since and about two thirds of the population have now left the island. Even today, police permission must be received before anyone can enter the evacuation area, so the best way to see the volcano close up and in action is by helicopter. As you fly over the volcano and the devastated areas, you cannot but reflect on the wonder and the fury of nature.
Get a bird's-eye view of the volcano and surrounding areas as you learn about the tragic events of its massive eruption in 1995.