{"product_id":"the-last-days-of-st-pierre-the-volcanic-disaster-that-claimed-30000-lives","title":"The Last Days of St. Pierre: The Volcanic Disaster That Claimed 30 000 Lives","description":"\u003cp\u003eOn May 8  1902  Mont Pele on the island of Martinique exploded. A deadly cloud of steam and ash churned through plantations and villages  flattened the grand city of St. Pierre  then thundered into the bay where it sank eighteen ships and hundreds of smaller craft. Within a minute or two  nearly 30 000 humans died. The splintered rubble of their homes and belongings burned for three days  and the world began to understand the awesome power of nues ardentes  glowing avalanches of hot gas and debris that sweep down the slopes of volcanoes  instantly steaming to death anything in its path. The enormous death toll was particularly tragic because it was avoidable. Had it not been for an unfortunate combination of scientific misjudgment and political hubris  most of the victims would have escaped. In The Last Days of St. Pierre  Ernest Zebrowski Jr. counts down the days leading up to the catastrophe  and unfolds a tale intertwining human foolishness and heroism with the remarkable forces of nature. Illustrations contrast life in Martinique before and after the eruption  and eyewitness accounts bring the story to life. Although it seems a long time since the destruction of St. Pierre  it is a mere blink of an eye in our planets geological history. Mont Pele will erupt again  as will Vesuvius  Krakatau  St. Helens  Thera  and most other infamously fatal volcanoes  and human lives will again be threatened. The St. Pierre disaster has taught us much about the awesome power of volcanic forces and the devastation they can bring.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44963078504501,"sku":"ByrdShop_0813530415","price":62.33,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780813530413.jpg?v=1770406083","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-last-days-of-st-pierre-the-volcanic-disaster-that-claimed-30000-lives","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}