Volcano Hazards: | Types and Effects | Location | | Gas | Lahars | Landslides | Lava Flows | Pyroclastic Flows | Tephra |

Since the year A.D. 1500, more than 300,000 people have died from volcanic activity. Most people were killed by only a few eruptions. For example, the huge explosive eruption of Tambora volcano in 1815 killed more than 90,000 people, primarily by starvation because the eruption destroyed crops and farmland. In the 20th century, eruptions at Mont Pelée and Nevado del Ruiz volcanoes killed more than 50,000 people. These examples demonstrate the importance of knowing the type and location of hazards associated with currently active and potentially active volcanoes. Plannng for these hazards ahead of time can prevent future volcanic activity from becoming a disaster.

This table summarizes notable historical volcanic activity that resulted in at least 300 fatalities. Accurate numbers of deaths are difficult to obtain, even today, and the historic record often fails to provide reliable estimates. A question mark follows those numbers when the exact causes of deaths are not known. See Volcanoes of the World below for more information.

1. Merapi, 1672; one source gives total of 3,000 fatalities and another gives total of 300
2. Ritter, 1888; landslide triggered a tsunamis that killed "hundreds" and perhaps as many as 3,000 people
3. Awu, 1892; source descriptions suggest 25% of these fatalities may have been caused by lahars
4. Santa María, 1902; one source suggests "hundreds" of fatalities were caused by collapsed houses from the weight of tephra, and several thousand more people died from malaria outbreak
5. Taal, 1911; perhaps 20% of these fatalities were caused by tsunamis from explosive activity in the crater lake
6. Rabaul Caldera, 1937; sources suggest 50% caused by pyroclastic flows, 40% caused by tephra, 5% caused by tsunamis, 5% caused by exposure or starvation
7. Agung, 1963; perhaps more than 1,500 fatalities occurred, 14% caused by tephra, 14% caused by lahars
8. Mount Pinatubo, 1991; post-eruption lahars have caused many more deaths and destruction to farmland and communities than the Jun 15, 1991 eruption

References