ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Plymouth, Montserrat

Okay kiddo, let's talk about Plymouth, Montserrat. Montserrat is a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea, and Plymouth is its capital city. Back in 1995, a big volcano called Soufriere Hills woke up from a long sleep and started to erupt. This means it was spewing hot rocks, ash, and gas into the air, which made the island very dangerous to live on.

The leaders of Montserrat tried their best to keep people safe, but eventually, they had to evacuate everyone from Plymouth. This means they had to get everyone to leave the city and move to other parts of the island or even to other countries. It was a sad time because Plymouth was once a bustling city with shops, homes, and offices, but now it's abandoned.

Since the volcano is still active, people cannot return to Plymouth because it's too dangerous. The hot rocks and ash could hurt anyone who goes there, and the gas could also be harmful to breathe. The government wants people to stay safe, so they have designated the area around Plymouth as a "restricted zone," which means nobody is allowed to go there except for scientists or emergency workers.

So, Plymouth is a ghost town now, and it's a reminder of the dangers of living near a volcano. But the people of Montserrat are resilient and have rebuilt their homes and communities in other parts of the island, and they continue to work towards a brighter future.