These are the biggest volcanic eruptions of all time

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on November 4, affecting seven surrounding villages and killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more. A state of emergency was declared by the government as the authorities worked to evacuate 16,000 residents. The following week, on November 13, the volcano began erupting again, this time sending lava, rock, and ash eight kilometers (five miles) into the air. The remaining ash clouds caused the mass cancellation of flights to and from Bali's airport, over 500 kilometers (310 miles) away.

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Mount Vesuvius, Italy - 79 CE -

The famous volcano exploded on August 24 in 79 CE, destroying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Located at the Bay of Naples, it remains active to this day.

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Krakatoa, Indonesia - 1883 -

With 150 active volcanoes, Indonesia has an unfortunate history with volcanic eruptions. This one from 1883 was so strong that the explosion also created a tsunami, whose maximum wave heights reached 140 feet (40 m). It killed about 34,000 people.

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Laki, Iceland - 1783 and 1784 -

Instead of one giant eruption, Laki saw a series of lava flows and explosions that lasted for more than eight months. The eruption resulted in a famine that killed over 10,000 people.

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Mount Pelée, Martinique - 1902 -

In early May 1902, a river of volcanic rock fragments and water burst out of the side of the mountain, which triggered a tsunami. The island's governor assured residents that there was no real danger. However, days later, the mountain exploded with superheated gas and debris that killed 30,000 residents in just a few minutes.

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Mount Tambora, Indonesia - 1815 -

The explosion of Mount Tambora ranked at VEI 7. The death toll from the eruption was estimated at 71,000 people. The volcano, which is still active, is one of the tallest peaks in the Indonesian archipelago.

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Mount Saint Helens, Washington state - 1980 -

On May 18, 1980, volcanic terror hit North America after an earthquake provoked the eruption of Mount Saint Helens. Ranked VEI 5, sadly 57 people died, making it the deadliest volcanic eruption in US history.

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Yellowstone, Wyoming - 664,000 years ago -

All of Yellowstone National Park is an active volcano. It has erupted at least three times, going back 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago, and most recently 640,000 years ago.

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Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia - 1985 -

Nevado del Ruiz has erupted several times since 1570, but the most memorable event occurred on November 13, 1985. As it erupted, ice melted, which caused mudslides of rock and volcanic debris. This tore through the surrounding structures and killed 23,000 people.

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Mount Lamington, Papua and New Guinea - 1951 -

A series of minor explosions and earthquakes rocked Mount Lamington to eruption in 1951. The largest eruption led to thick black ash, which rose 50,000 feet (15,000 m) into the atmosphere. The eruption collapsed a lava dome and produced a lethal pyroclastic flow, which killed 2,942 people.

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Novarupta, Alaska - 1912 -

The eruption of Novarupta was the largest volcanic blast of the 20th century. The powerful eruption sent three cubic miles (12.5 cubic km) of magma and ash into the air, which fell on an area of 3,000 square miles (7,800 square km).

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Mount Tarawera, New Zealand - 1886 -

North Island in New Zealand got a seismic shock on June 10, 1886, when Mount Tarawera erupted. The VEI 5 blasts were heard up to 310 miles (498 km) away, making it the largest volcanic event in the country's history.

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Huaynaputina, Peru - 1600 -

This peak was the location of South America's largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. The explosion sent mudflows as far as the Pacific Ocean, which is 75 miles (120 km) away.

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Mount Pinatubo, Philippines - 1991 -

Pinatubo is most notorious for its VEI 6 eruption on June 15, 1991. It was the second-largest eruption of the 20th century after Novarupta in Alaska. The eruption ejected more than one cubic mile (five cubic km) of material into the air and created a column of ash that rose up 22 miles (35 km) in the atmosphere.

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Santa Maria, Guatemala - 1902 -

One of the largest eruptions of the 20th century, the violent explosion came after the volcano had remained silent for about 500 years. It has experienced continuous activity since its last blast, claiming the lives of 5,000 people in a 1929 eruption.

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Ambrym, Vanuatu - 50 CE -

The 257-square-mile (665-square-km) volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean experienced one of the most impressive eruptions in history. It sent a wave of scalding ash and dust down the mountain and formed a 7.5 mile (12 km) wide caldera.

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Taal, Philippines - 1911 -

A large caldera filled by Taal Lake in the Philippines, the volcano is located about 31 miles (50 km) south of Manila. The devastating 1911 eruption killed 1,334 people and produced ash that reached the capital.

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Ilopango, El Salvador - 450 CE -

Located in central El Salvador, Ilopango only experienced two eruptions in its history. The first eruption blanketed much of the region with pumice and ash, and destroyed early Mayan cities. This forced inhabitants to flee. The summit's caldera is now home to one of El Salvador's largest lakes.

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Kelud, Indonesia - 1919 -

On May 19, 1919, an eruption at Kelud killed an estimated 5,000 people, mostly through hot mudflows, also known as lahars.

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Mount Asama, Japan - 1783 -

The 1783 eruption lasted three months and caused widespread damage. It killed about 1,400 people, and later 20,000 due to famine.

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Cotopaxi, Ecuador - 1877 -

Known to have erupted 87 times, one of the most violent eruptions occurred in 1877. The pyroclastic flows descended on all sides of the mountain, melting the entire ice cap. This made mudflow and debris travel more than 62 miles (100 km) into the Pacific Ocean and western Amazon.

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El Chichón, Mexico - 1982 -

The 1982 eruption of El Chichón is the largest disaster in modern Mexican history. Magma destroyed the summit lava dome, which was accompanied by pyroclastic flows and surges that killed 1,900 people.

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Mayon, Philippines - 1814 -

The most active volcano in the Philippines, its 1814 eruption is considered to be the volcano's most violent episode. It devastated five towns and killed at least 1,200 people.

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Lake Toba, Indonesia - 74,000 years ago -

At the site of present-day Lake Toba, one of Earth's largest known explosive eruptions occurred 74,000 years ago. The eruption is estimated to rank at VEI 8.

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Mount Thera, Greece - 1610 BCE -

Also known as Santorini, the eruption on the island had a VEI magnitude between 6 and 7. One of the largest volcanic events in human history, it destroyed the Minoan civilization who lived there.

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Mount Unzen, Japan - 1792 -

The eruption of Mount Unzen caused a destructive landslide and tsunami, killing nearly 15,000 people. It's the deadliest volcanic eruption in Japan’s history.

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Mount Papandayan, Indonesia - 1772 -

On August 11, 1772, Mount Papandayan erupted for the first time, producing a catastrophic debris avalanche that destroyed 40 villages and killed 2,957 people. It's still an active volcano.

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Soufrière, Saint-Vincent - 1902 -

In May 1902, the volcano on the Caribbean island entered into a violent eruption that sent ash high into the atmosphere. The event killed 1,680 people.

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Galunggung, Indonesia - 1882 -

Located in West Java, the active volcano had its first historical eruption in 1822, which produced pyroclastic flows and lahars. It killed 4,011 people.

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Oshima, Japan - 1741 -

The devastating eruption of Oshima began on August 18, 1741 and ended on May 1 the next year. Days into the eruption, the Kampo tsunami swept across the region. An estimated 2,000 people died.

Sources: (Live Science) (Time) (Mental Floss) (Unocha.org)

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Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, Indonesia - 2024 -

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Mount Vesuvius, Italy - 79 CE -

The famous volcano exploded on August 24 in 79 CE, destroying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Located at the Bay of Naples, it remains active to this day.

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Krakatoa, Indonesia - 1883 -

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Laki, Iceland - 1783 and 1784 -

Instead of one giant eruption, Laki saw a series of lava flows and explosions that lasted for more than eight months. The eruption resulted in a famine that killed over 10,000 people.

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Mount Pelée, Martinique - 1902 -

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Mount Tambora, Indonesia - 1815 -

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Mount Saint Helens, Washington state - 1980 -

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Yellowstone, Wyoming - 664,000 years ago -

All of Yellowstone National Park is an active volcano. It has erupted at least three times, going back 2.1 million years ago, 1.2 million years ago, and most recently 640,000 years ago.

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Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia - 1985 -

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Mount Lamington, Papua and New Guinea - 1951 -

Public Domain

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Novarupta, Alaska - 1912 -

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Mount Tarawera, New Zealand - 1886 -

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Huaynaputina, Peru - 1600 -

This peak was the location of South America's largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. The explosion sent mudflows as far as the Pacific Ocean, which is 75 miles (120 km) away.

Getty Images

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Mount Pinatubo, Philippines - 1991 -

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Santa Maria, Guatemala - 1902 -

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Ambrym, Vanuatu - 50 CE -

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Taal, Philippines - 1911 -

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Ilopango, El Salvador - 450 CE -

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Kelud, Indonesia - 1919 -

On May 19, 1919, an eruption at Kelud killed an estimated 5,000 people, mostly through hot mudflows, also known as lahars.

Getty Images

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Mount Asama, Japan - 1783 -

The 1783 eruption lasted three months and caused widespread damage. It killed about 1,400 people, and later 20,000 due to famine.

Getty Images

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Cotopaxi, Ecuador - 1877 -

Getty Images

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El Chichón, Mexico - 1982 -

Getty Images

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Mayon, Philippines - 1814 -

The most active volcano in the Philippines, its 1814 eruption is considered to be the volcano's most violent episode. It devastated five towns and killed at least 1,200 people.

Getty Images

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Lake Toba, Indonesia - 74,000 years ago -

At the site of present-day Lake Toba, one of Earth's largest known explosive eruptions occurred 74,000 years ago. The eruption is estimated to rank at VEI 8.

Getty Images

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Mount Thera, Greece - 1610 BCE -

Also known as Santorini, the eruption on the island had a VEI magnitude between 6 and 7. One of the largest volcanic events in human history, it destroyed the Minoan civilization who lived there.

Getty Images

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Mount Unzen, Japan - 1792 -

The eruption of Mount Unzen caused a destructive landslide and tsunami, killing nearly 15,000 people. It's the deadliest volcanic eruption in Japan’s history.

Getty Images

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Mount Papandayan, Indonesia - 1772 -

On August 11, 1772, Mount Papandayan erupted for the first time, producing a catastrophic debris avalanche that destroyed 40 villages and killed 2,957 people. It's still an active volcano.

Getty Images

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Soufrière, Saint-Vincent - 1902 -

In May 1902, the volcano on the Caribbean island entered into a violent eruption that sent ash high into the atmosphere. The event killed 1,680 people.

Getty Images

28 / 31 Fotos

Galunggung, Indonesia - 1882 -

Located in West Java, the active volcano had its first historical eruption in 1822, which produced pyroclastic flows and lahars. It killed 4,011 people.

Getty Images

29 / 31 Fotos

Oshima, Japan - 1741 -

The devastating eruption of Oshima began on August 18, 1741 and ended on May 1 the next year. Days into the eruption, the Kampo tsunami swept across the region. An estimated 2,000 people died.

Sources: (Live Science) (Time) (Mental Floss) (Unocha.org)

Getty Images

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These are the biggest volcanic eruptions of all time

These volcanoes went down in history for their catastrophic eruptions

18/03/25 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Volcanoes

From Vesuvius to Laki, we've seen some monstrous eruptions of volcanoes throughout history. Most of these volcanoes are stratovolcanoes, meaning cone-shaped elevations that were built over time from layers of ash and lava. Due to their relatively soft composition, pressure builds up inside until they blow up, which results in sudden explosive eruptions. Their steep slopes then generate pyroclastic flows, making them some of the most dangerous types of volcanoes.

The power of such eruptions is measured using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which is a scale that goes from one to eight. Each succeeding VEI is 10 times greater than the last. Need examples? Click on for some of the worst volcanic eruptions in history.