Alfred Edward White (76) and Catherine Irish (79), live in the new northern community, having had to abandon their farmland and home in the south of the island. Locals have been greatly affected by the volcanic eruption in 1995, which has resulted in up to 7,000 of the 10,500 inhabitants being evacuated from the island. Other residents have been moved to the northernmost areas, while the southern region is designated out of bounds to everyone except scientists. The Soufriere Hills volcano began erupting in July 1995, and remained active through the subsequent decade. .