Face distorted in the throes of agony: images before and after the terrible volcanic eruption of the twentieth century

The eruption of the volcano Montagne Pelee in 1902 was the worst volcanic disaster of the twentieth century. In less than a minute, the volcano destroyed the whole city at the foot of the Saint-Pierre — the largest city on the island of Martinique. More than 30 thousand people were killed in a matter of seconds, and only three managed to escape.

A month before the eruption of the volcano smoked and released the pair, however the locals are used to it. Most were convinced that there's nothing to worry about, because that it was before. Until suddenly on may 8 in the sky rose a cloud of ash and covered the city.

When it became clear that the Montagne Pele threat, in Saint-Pierre, 8 km from the volcano burst into a panic. Some left the house, leaving all their belongings. However, the newspaper claimed that staying in the city dangerous. Thousands of people believed them to their death.

The city of Saint-Pierre before the eruption.

On 8 may, the townspeople celebrate the feast of the ascension of Christ to heaven, when suddenly the volcano burst three clouds made of pulverized lava, gases and vapors, and covered the city. The temperature was above one thousand degrees Celsius. In less than a minute the whole city was destroyed.

The beginning of the eruption.

The city soon after the eruption.

The statue of the virgin Mary before the eruption stood in the Cathedral.

The city's waterfront.

The remains of the unfortunate inhabitants.

People were burned alive, some so quickly that she felt no pain. Others felt their blood boil, and tried to flee, only to be covered the fire wave, causing to scream in agony and writhe. Their pain remained on their faces.

They managed to survive all three. 10-year-old girl by the name of Aviva Yes, April (Havivra Da Ifrile) escaped by boat, hiding in one of the coastal caves. Leon Komper-leandre (Léon Compère-Léandre), who lived on the outskirts of town, jumped into the boiling ocean and was saved, having received numerous burns. Criminal Louis Auguste Cyparis (Louis-Auguste Cyparis) during the eruption were in the basement in solitary confinement, was the only safe place in the city.

Survivors had more, but they died of the burns.