The effects 3. Airlines lose millions every day! On a normal Sunday in April there would be 24,000 planes flying through European airspace – on Sunday April 18,2010 there were just 4,000. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that the airline industry worldwide would lose €148 million (US$200 million, GB£130 million) a day during the disruption.

The effects 4. Some companies benefit Rail and ferry companies reaped the benefit. Extra trains and ferries were laid on – but fares increased. The companies denied that they were “making money out of misery.”

The effects 5. Royal Navy to the rescue Holidaymakers trying to get home from Spain were stranded – no planes, the main road route through France closed and SNCF, the French rail workers Union, went on strike – cancelling trains in the south of France. The Royal Navy responded by sending a warship – HMS Albion – to rescue soldiers and holidaymakers trapped in Santander.

Flights to and from the UK eventually resumed on April 20 95,000 flights were cancelled, affecting an estimated 8 million passengers worldwide. The airlines have lost hundreds of millions of pounds and want European governments to pay compensation. Some airlines such as BA believe that planes should have been allowed to fly much earlier…. The aviation authorities decided, rightly or wrongly, that the risk was just too great… What do you think?

Montserrat ,Soufriere Hills, Caribbean volcanic eruptions 1995/97

Montserrat Location Montserrat, a small island in the Caribbean – a British colony. Mountainous and wooded. Called ‘the Emerald Island’ It had many exclusive villas on its coast belonging to a variety of wealthy British people. Most of the locals however were poor, living in small villages and practising subsistence farming. Before the eruption, the population was 12000, 50% of whom lived in the capital city Plymouth.

Montserrat Island Key High land Town Prevailing wind Road River Peak St. Peter’s Airport Prevailing wind Road Spanish Point River Peak Plymouth Fairfield Caribbean Sea

July 1995 the Soufriere Hills volcano erupted for the first time in 350 years. One month later, 50% of the population had been evacuated to the north away from the danger zone. Over time the eruptions became even more explosive and more people were evacuated. In 1997 another explosion destroyed villages in the centre of the island. Of the island’s 40sq ml. only 15 sq ml were considered safe.

Fig. 3 shows the impact of the eruptions on the island Fig. 3 shows the impact of the eruptions on the island. Those people who have stayed on are experiencing very harsh conditions. The south of the island was the most developed, with the main towns, communications and services. The north had few roads and settlements. Makeshift shelters are used with inadequate sanitation. The country now relies on aid from London. After the eruption and evacuation, people called for the British government to pay compensation and to rebuild the island. Aid totalling £41 m has been offered with £10.5m to relocate refugees. In 1997, £2400 was offered to each adult over 18 wanting to leave the island. The Montserratians wanted £20000 per person. Does it really make sense to rebuild after what the island has experienced?