Martinique: The deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century | DW Documentary

There are around 1,500 known active volcanoes worldwide. A volcano is considered active if it has erupted in the last 10,000 years. Around 40 to 60 volcanoes erupt every year. The eruption of Mont Pelée on the Caribbean island of Martinique is considered the deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. On May 8, 1902, a pyroclastic flow wiped out the island's cultural capital, Saint-Pierre. Known as the "Paris of the Caribbean,” the city was located just seven kilometers away from the eruption, and was engulfed in a matter of minutes. An estimated 28,000 to 30,000 people were killed - they were burned, or suffocated. The eruption came as a complete surprise to the islanders, as the signs of the volcano’s activity were ignored. The disaster led to the establishment of the first volcanic observatories and marked the birth of volcanology. #documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #martinique #volcano ______ DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary. Subscribe to: ‬ ⮞ DW Documentary (English): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDocumentary ⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDocumental ⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): https://www.youtube.com/@dwdocarabia ⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDochindi ⮞ DW Dokumenter (Indonesian): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDokumenter ⮞ DW Doku (German): https://www.youtube.com/@dwdoku For more visit: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610 Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwdocumentary/ Follow DW Documental on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwdocumental We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G