What was the impact of the eruption? The eruption on 25 June 1997 affected Montserrat in a number of ways. For the first time during the eruption people were killed and injured. Villages were destroyed and land previously used for farming was covered in rock and ash deposits. Impact on the Environment During the eruption between 4 - 5 million cubic metres of lava was unloaded in the form of pyroclastic flows. A total of at least 4 square kilometres of land was covered by the deposits from the pyroclastic flows and surges. The main part of the flow in Mosquito Ghaut caused intense scouring to the top of the valley walls. Pyroclastic flow deposits completely filled Pea Ghaut. Numerous villages were affected by deposits: Dyer's, Streatham, Riley's Yard, Farrell's Yard, Windy Hill, Harris, Bramble, Bethel, Spanish Point, Farm, Trant's. The villages of Farms and Trant's were completely buried by block and ash flow deposits. Houses were partially buried or burned down by the intense heat. Aluminium window shutters were melted and twisted. Everything made from wood was burned. Other houses were destroyed by direct impact of rocks, up to 5 metres in size. The fine grained pyroclastic surges broke and flattened trees. In some areas there was no vegetation left at all, vegetable beds were bare of plants and the soil was baked hard. Deposits from the ash cloud were limited to areas west and north-west of the volcano. The main impact of the ash was the hazard to the search and rescue mission. Impact on the People Houses The eruption on 25 June 1997 destroyed between 100 -150 houses. The houses were buried by debris from the pyroclastic flow, burned by the hot pyroclastic surges, or set alight by the intense heat in the atmosphere. Most of the houses destroyed were in the Exclusion Zone and should have been empty but an estimated 15 people were living and sleeping in the Exclusion Zone. Farmland Some farmers regularly returned to the Exclusion Zone to care for animals or tend to crops. They were producing crops to feed evacuees in the north of the island. Most land suitable for farming was in the south of the island, close to the volcano. According to reports there was not enough food to go round. Therefore locals put pressure on officials to allow access for farming. After the eruption much of this land was destroyed by volcanic deposits. Survivors and Victims The 19 people who were killed by the pyroclastic flows and surges were in the Exclusion Zone. Common injuries to the seven people injured were severe burns to the feet as a result of walking on ash deposits only about 1-2 cm deep.. Other survivors suffered burns to various parts of their bodies, including inhalation injuries and burns to the nostrils and mouth. Transport Debris from the pyroclastic flow came within 50 metres of W.H. Bramble Airport. The airport was undamaged but since then the airport has not re-opened. Although the capital, Plymouth, was no longer occupied the port was still in use. On the day of the eruption a fuel tanker was connected to the port to deliver fuel for vehicles. The tanker was notified and fuel lines to the port were disconnected. Although the port was not destroyed by this eruption, an emergency jetty was built in the north of Montserrat. Many of the islanders relied on cars and vans to get themselves about the island. Some people in the Exclusion Zone tried to escape using their vehicles. The ash was so thick that it was impossible to see the road. The intense heat would also have burned the tyres of a car or even set it alight.