A Moderate explosive eruption on the 17th October, 1971 led to 10, 000 being Evacuated and 2000 persons affected. There was a 40% decline in agricultural production as a result of the eruption

Source: https://goo.gl/Hv4T6p

Smith (2011) details the detials of the event : Output losses were estimated at 14% of island GDP and infrastructure damage at 7% of physical capital invested in sugar estates. In contrast, casualty rates during the eruption and its aftermath proved minimal. Losses were concentrated in two northern coastal regions lying closest to the volcano: firstly,long-established plantations and estates on the Leeward side; secondly, recently-established estates on the Windward side. Leeward cultivators recovered only three-quarters of their pre-disaster output level during the 5 years after 1812.