Editing Montserrat (section)

=== Volcano and exclusion zone ===
[[File:Montserrat Salem Eruption1.jpg|thumb|right|Eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano on 22 September 1997]]
[[File:Montserrat eruption.JPG|thumb|[[Plymouth, Montserrat|Plymouth City]] (former capital and major port of Montserrat) on 12 July 1997, after [[pyroclastic flow]]s burned much of what was not covered in ash]]
[[File:Soufriere Hills Volcano dome collapse.gif|thumb|False-colour time-lapse images of the Soufrière Hills volcanic dome collapse in 2010, from [[NASA]]]]
[[File:Plymouth City & Volcano.jpg|thumb|upright|Devastated Plymouth City and volcano (2003)]]

In July 1995, Montserrat's Soufrière Hills volcano, dormant for centuries, erupted and soon buried the island's capital, Plymouth, in more than {{convert|12|m|ft}} of mud, destroyed its airport and docking facilities, and rendered the southern part of the island, now termed the exclusion zone, uninhabitable and not safe for travel. The southern part of the island was evacuated and visits are severely restricted.<ref>{{cite book |last=Leonard |first=T. M. |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of the Developing World |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadeve00leon |url-access=limited |publisher=Routledge |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadeve00leon/page/n1121 1083] |isbn=978-1-57958-388-0}}</ref> The exclusion zone also includes two sea areas adjacent to the land areas of most volcanic activity.<ref name="mvo.ms"/>

After the destruction of Plymouth and disruption of the economy, more than half of the population left the island, which also lacked housing. During the late 1990s, additional eruptions occurred. On 25 June 1997, a pyroclastic flow travelled down Mosquito Ghaut. This [[pyroclastic surge]] could not be restrained by the [[ghat|ghaut]] (a steep revine leading to the sea) and spilled out of it, killing 19 people who were in the (officially evacuated) Streatham village area. Several others in the area suffered severe burns.

[[British nationality law]] has changed over time with respect to the status granted to Montserrat residents. In recognition of the disaster, in 1998, the people of Montserrat were granted full residency rights in the United Kingdom, allowing them to migrate if they chose. [[British citizenship]] was granted in 2002 to [[British Overseas Territories citizen]]s in Montserrat and all but one other British Overseas Territory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-overseas-territories-citizen |title=Types of British nationality: British overseas territories citizen |website=British Government |access-date=8 July 2017 |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523172836/https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/british-overseas-territories-citizen |url-status=live }}</ref>

For a number of years in the early 2000s, the volcano's activity consisted mostly of infrequent ventings of [[Volcanic ash|ash]] into the uninhabited areas in the south. The ash falls occasionally extended into the northern and western parts of the island. In the most recent period of increased activity at the Soufrière Hills volcano, from November 2009 through February 2010, ash vented and there was a [[Vulcanian eruption|vulcanian explosion]] that sent [[pyroclastic flow]]s down several sides of the mountain. Travel into parts of the exclusion zone was occasionally allowed, though only by a licence from the Royal Montserrat Police Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/montserrat |title=Montserrat (British Overseas Territory) travel advice |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=19 December 2012 |work=Travel & living abroad |publisher=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] |access-date=31 December 2012 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060426/http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/montserrat |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2014 the area has been split into multiple subzones with varying entry and use restrictions, based on volcanic activity: some areas even being (in 2020) open 24 hours and inhabited. The most dangerous zone, which includes the former capital, remains forbidden to casual visitors due to volcanic and other hazards, especially due to the lack of maintenance in destroyed areas. It is legal to visit this area when accompanied by a government-authorised guide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mvoms.org/pub/Hazard_Level_System/HLS-20140801.pdf |title=Montserrat Hazard Level System Zones |publisher=Montserrat Volcanic Observatory |date=1 August 2014 |access-date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628060429/http://mvoms.org/pub/Hazard_Level_System/HLS-20140801.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmontserrat.com/montserrat-history-facts/|title=Montserrat History & Facts|access-date=10 October 2022|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530163641/https://www.visitmontserrat.com/montserrat-history-facts/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The northern part of Montserrat has largely been unaffected by volcanic activity, and remains lush and green. In February 2005, [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] officially opened what is now called the [[John A. Osborne Airport]] in the north. Since 2011, it handles several flights daily operated by [[FlyMontserrat|Fly Montserrat Airways]]. Docking facilities are in place at Little Bay, where the new capital town is being constructed; the new government centre is at Brades, a short distance away.