Mont+Pelee,+Martinique,+1902+(302)

__Nature of eruption/ Materials produced in eruption __  The [|eruption] didn't come much unexpected because there were foregoing //"**warnings**"// of the [|volcano] : *//They fled from the slopes of the about to erupt Mount Pelee into the unsuspecting town, killing animals and humans//. 4. During the **last days of April** and **first few days of May**, Mount Pelee started vomiting **ash** and the **gas-scent** grew stronger and stronger. 5. **7th May-** residents were startled by enormous roaring. There were two craters on top of Mount Pelee- a big cloud hung above the volcano emitting flashes of lightning. When [|viscous] [|magma], containing much [gas|gas] , is erupted under reasonably low pressure, a glowing cloud containing [ash|ash] and [|pumice] may be thrown into the air, this cloud will fall back onto the earth like an avalanche before it can cool off. This avalanche is called a **nuée ardente**.  __Human response (before and after) __ Although many of the residents of St. Pierre attempted to leave the town, the city administration actively discouraged them from doing so, and evacuees from the surrounding country side had swelled the population of the town by May 8th.  Shortly after the eruption, the area of St. Pierre was completely abandoned. But slowly families were drawn to the ruins by the cheap price of the land, and the desire to rebuild the city. It is worth noting that the first building to be constructed among the ruins was a hotel, mostly thanks to the touristic activity which developed after the disaster. Many travelers were eager to see the infamous volcano and the damages of the eruption. Until 1923 the area of St. Pierre developed as a neighborhood of Carbet, then recovered a full administrative status, but never regained the population and the activity of before the catastrophe. In fact the increase of the population observed during the 1920's was stopped by the eruption of 1929-1932.
 * 1) ** 2ndApril- ** **steam came out** of the Pelée, on the 23th April light **earthshocks** were noticed and a thin rain of [ash|ash] fell on the city.
 * 2) ** 25th April- ** ** [ash|ash] ** and ** [|pumice] ** were spit out by the [|volcano].
 * 3) Signs of **tremors** and dozens of pit vipers **poisonous snakes** invaded the town of St. Pierre.
 * //__ Main Eruption __//**** : **
 * 1) 8th May (about 8am in the morning to 8 in the night), two **enormous black clouds of volcanic material** ( [ardente|nuées ardentes] ) were thrown out.
 * one [ardente|nuée] went straight up and the other one followed the slope of the [|volcano] coming towards St Pierre.
 * This rolling, glowing and incredible **hot avalanche** destroyed nearly the whole village in a few minutes.

__No. of casualties/Main cause of casualty __

The eruption killed about 30,121 people, most deaths in the destroyed [|Saint-Pierre], at that time the largest city in Martinique, due to its deadly [|pyroclastic flows].

At 7:50 local time on May 8th, a series of deafening explosions were heard from Mt. Pelee, and a huge black cloud issued from the summit of the volcano. The cloud, known as a nuee ardente, or pyroclastic flow, of searing superheated gas and incandescent volcanic ash and dust rushed down the southern and southeastern slopes of Mt. Pelee, and within two minutes, swept over and engulfed St. Pierre. It set the town ablaze, and killed by intense heat, all but 2 of the population.

__Terms that might need explanation __ When [|viscous] [|magma], containing much, is erupted under reasonably low pressure, a glowing cloud containing [ash|ash] and [|pumice] may be thrown into the air, this cloud will fall back onto the earth like an avalanche before it can cool off. This avalanche is called a **nuée ardente**.