giovedì 15 dicembre 2011

Which volcano has killed the most people?

The eruption of Tambora in Indonesia in 1815 killed the most people.  It was a huge eruption that sent ash into the stratosphere that then spread around the world.  World climate was noticeably cooler the following year, and in places it was called “the year without a summer.”Enormous volumes of pyroclastic flow followed by caldera collapse created an up to 10m wall of water that devastated the Indonesian shoreline.  As many as10,000 deaths are attributed to the resulting tsunami.   Thousands more died due to the destruction of crops and livestock, disease, contamination of water, etc., tens of thousands more died in the years that followed.  Overall as many as 92,000 deaths were attributed to this eruption.

Here is a chart of all eruptions with more than 500 known fatalities:

Deaths Attributed

Volcano

Year

Major Cause of Death

92,000Tambora, Indonesia1815Starvation (and Tsunami)
36,417Krakatau, Indonesia1883Tsunami
29,025Mt. Pelee, Martinique1902Ash flows
25,000Ruiz, Colombia1985Mudflows
14,300Unzen, Japan1792Tsunami
9,350Laki, Iceland1783Starvation
5,110Kelut, Indonesia1919Mudflows
4,011Galunggung, Indonesia1882Mudflows
3,500Vesuvius, Italy1631Mud & lava flows
3,360Vesuvius, Italy79Ash flows
2,957Papandayan, Indonesia1772Ash flows
2,942Lamington, Papua N.G.1951Ash flows
2,000El Chichon, Mexico1982Ash flows
1,680Soufriere, St Vincent1902Ash flows
1,475Oshima, Japan1741Tsunami
1,377Asama, Japan1783Ash flows, mudflows
1,335Taal, Philippines1911Ash flows
1,200Mayon, Philippines1814Mudflows
1,184Agung, Indonesia1963Ash flows
1,000Cotopaxi, Ecuador1877Mudflows
800Pinatubo, Philippines1991Roof collapses and disease
700Komagatake, Japan1640Tsunami
700Ruiz, Colombia1845Mudflows
500Hibok-Hibok, Philippines1951Ash flows

Nessun commento:

Posta un commento