The First Big Explosion: 17 September 1996

1996

The first big explosion of Soufrière Hills Volcano occurred on 17 September 1996. Explosions like this are called “Vulcanian” after the Italian volcano island Vulcano. They produce loud canon-like bangs, large volcanic bombs, and dense ash clouds.

A dome collapse creating an ash plume on 6 November 1997. The first explosion on 17 September 1996 happened in the middle of the night, under cover of darkness. Credit: Paul Cole.

Zunky N’Dem describe the confusion and problems when the first explosion happened on ‘the 7th Anniversary of Hurricane Hugo’ in their Song ‘This is It’:

This Is It (Zunky 'n Dem)

This Is It

‘Days slowly turned to night,
A day that was filled, with continuous rocks falls and ash flows.
An 8:30pm respite,
It was then we forgot, that the end we know not / Only Jah knows.

Suddenly out of the black
An explosion rip out a scar
In the heart of the lava dome
A deafening roar filled the entire nation
Creating motion of the whole population north

I still recall the drama unfolding,
People were scrambling and sirens wailing,
Here’s what I heard on my walkie-talkie radio:
Do you copy?

Where’s the check point officer? / Heading north!
Where’s the priest and the doctor? / Heading north!
The commissioner he was heading north!
The Chief Minister / Heading north
They saying / oh ooh ooh oh / this is it / oh ooh ooh oh

The seventh anniversary of Hugo / oh ooh ooh oh

In a jiffy the north main road / Was filled with vehicles
One long line bumper to bumper
The country in panic mode
Rushing just hustling and hoping that north would be safer’

Lithic and pumice and gravel were falling,
Hot ash was scattered on every square inch, of ground
Cars and trucks skidding / Windshields were shattered,
Electricity and zjb / All gone down

I still recall the drama unfolding
People were scrambling and sirens wailing
That’s when I heard this exchange on my radio
Do you copy?

Where’s the check point officer? / Heading north!
Where’s the priest and the doctor? / Heading north!
The Commissioner he was heading north!
And the Governor / Heading north!
They saying / oh ooh ooh oh / this is it / oh ooh ooh oh
The seventh anniversary of Hugo / oh ooh ooh oh

Oh ooh ooh oh
This is it / oh ooh ooh oh
The seventh anniversary of Hugo / oh ooh ooh oh’

– Song 'This Is It' by Zunky 'n Dem