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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How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
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- FAQ
What was the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century?
The world's largest eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1912 at Novarupta on the Alaska Peninsula in what is now Katmai National Park and Preserve. An estimated 15 cubic kilometers of magma was explosively erupted during 60 hours beginning on June 6th. This volume is equivalent to 230 years of eruption at Kilauea (Hawaii) or about 30 times the volume erupted by Mount St. Helens (Washington)...
Which volcanoes in the conterminous United States have erupted since the Nation was founded?
Excluding steam eruptions, these volcanoes have shown activity: Mount St. Helens, Washington - Eruptions and/or lava dome growth occurred in the late 1700s, 1800-1857, 1980-1986, and 2004-2008. Lassen Peak, California - A series of steam blasts began on May 30, 1914. An eruption occurred 12 months later on May 21, 1915. Minor activity continued through the middle of 1917. Mount Hood, Oregon -...
Where is the largest active volcano in the world?
Rising gradually to more than 4 km (2.5 mi) above sea level, Hawaii’s Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on our planet. Its submarine flanks descend to the sea floor an additional 5 km (3 mi), and the sea floor in turn is depressed by Mauna Loa's great mass another 8 km (5 mi). This makes the volcano's summit about 17 km (10.5 mi) above its base! Learn more: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Where does the United States rank in the number of volcanoes?
The United States ranks third, behind Indonesia and Japan, in the number of historically active volcanoes (that is, those for which we have written accounts of eruptions). In addition, about 10 percent of the more than 1,500 volcanoes that have erupted in the past 10,000 years are located in the United States. Most of these volcanoes are found in the Aleutian Islands, the Alaska Peninsula, the...
Is it dangerous to work on volcanoes? What precautions do scientists take?
Volcanoes are inherently beautiful places where forces of nature combine to produce awesome events and spectacular landscapes. For volcanologists, they're FUN to work on! Safety is, however, always the primary concern because volcanoes can be dangerous places. USGS scientists try hard to understand the risk inherent in any situation, then train and equip themselves with the tools and support...
What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States?
The May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens (Washington) was the most destructive in the history of the United States. Novarupta (Katmai) Volcano in Alaska erupted considerably more material in 1912, but owing to the isolation and sparse population of the region, there were no human deaths and little property damage. In contrast, the eruption of Mount St. Helens caused loss of lives and...
What is the "Ring of Fire"?
Most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions do not strike randomly but occur in specific areas, such as along plate boundaries. One such area is the circum-Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate meets many surrounding tectonic plates. The Ring of Fire is the most seismically and volcanically active zone in the world. Learn more: USGS Volcano Hazards Program
What are some benefits of volcanic eruptions?
Over geologic time, volcanic eruptions and related processes have directly and indirectly benefited mankind:Volcanic materials ultimately break down and weather to form some of the most fertile soils on Earth, cultivation of which has produced abundant food and fostered civilizations.The internal heat associated with young volcanic systems has been harnessed to produce geothermal energy.Most of...
How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
There are about 1,350 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, aside from the continuous belts of volcanoes on the ocean floor at spreading centers like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. About 500 of those 1,350 volcanoes have erupted in historical time. Many of those are located along the Pacific Rim in what is known as the "Ring of Fire." In the United States, volcanoes in the Cascade Range and Alaska...
Do volcanoes affect weather?
Yes, volcanoes can affect weather and the Earth's climate. Following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, cooler than normal temperatures were recorded worldwide and brilliant sunsets and sunrises were attributed to this eruption that sent fine ash and gases high into the stratosphere, forming a large volcanic cloud that drifted around the world. The sulfur dioxide (SO2) in this...
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