Which volcanic eruptions were the deadliest?
Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions Since 1500 A.D.
| Eruption | Year | Casualties | Major Cause |
| Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia | 1985 | 25,0001,3 | Mudflows3 |
| Mont Pelée, Martinique | 1902 | 30,0001 (29,025)2 | Pyroclastic flows2 |
| Krakatau, Indonesia | 1883 | 36,0001 (36,417)2 | Tsunami2 |
| Tambora, Indonesia | 1815 | 92,0001,2 | Starvation2 |
| Unzendake, Japan | 1792 | 15,0001 (14,030)2 | Volcano collapse, Tsunami2 |
| Lakagigar (Laki), Iceland | 1783 | 9,0001 (9,350)2 | Starvation2 |
| Kelut, Indonesia | 1586 | 10,0001 |
Other Notable Eruptions
| Eruption | Year | Casualties | Major Cause |
| Mount Pinatubo, Philippines | 1991 | 3503 | Roof Collapse3 |
| Mount St. Helens, Washington | 1980 | 573 | Asphyxiation from ash |
| Kilauea, Hawaii | 1924 | 11 | Falling rock1 |
| Lassen Peak, California | 1915 | 04 | |
| Mount Vesuvius, Italy | 79 A.D. | 3,3602 | Pyroclastic Flow2 |
1 Eruptions of Mount St. Helens: Past, Present, and Future
2 Blong, R.J., 1984, Volcanic Hazards: A Sourcebook on the Effects of Eruptions: Orlando, Florida, Academic Press, 424p.
3 Living With Volcanoes: The U.S. Geological Survey's Volcano Hazards Program
4 Spall, H. (ed.), 1980, Earthquake Information Bulletin: July-August, 1980, v.12, no.4, 167p.
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