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Tambora, Indonesia 1815:
Tambora, a startovolcano, is
located on the northern island Sumbawa, Indonesia. This well known historical
volcano erupted in 1815 with a massive VEI 7 (Volcanic Explosivity Index),
causing total devastation. It is known as the most explosive eruption recorded
to date, killing over 80,000 people as a result of pyroclastic flows, tsunamis,
famine, disease and starvation.
An estimated 600km around
the volcano plummeted into darkness for up to 2 days due to the massive amounts
of pumice and ash released into the atmosphere as a result of the eruption. The
vast amounts of sulphur released in the atmosphere caused devastation around
the globe which led to 1816 being known as ‘the year without summer’. Crops
failed, famine struck various countries around the world, temperatures dropped
and strange weather phenomena occurred such as the falling of brown snow and
persistent dry fog.
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Mount St Helens, Washington
State, North America 1980:
Mount St Helens erupted on 18th
May 1980 leaving 57 dead. The volcano erupted
following 2 months of earthquakes, and a 100 metre bulge that grew 2 metres per
day on the north east side of the mountain. On the day of the eruption a
lateral blast occurred causing the bulge to get displaced, which in turn caused
an avalanche.
A pyroclastic flow, caused
by the eruption, travelled at up to 540 km/hour with temperatures up to 700
degrees Celsius, causing total destruction in its path before flowing into
Spirit Lake. This in turn caused lahars, adding to the destruction. The ash
column rose 20 km into the atmosphere and travelled 400 km away from the
immediate area.
The total cost of the
eruption was $39 million worth of damage to agriculture, $103 million to
property, $450 million to forests and $363 million for the clean up.
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Vesuvius, Italy 79 AD:
Mount Vesuvius is classified as an extremely violent volcano,
which has been best known for its catastrophic plinian eruption in 79 AD. The
eruption caused total devastation to the town of Pompeii and Herculaneum,
claiming around 3,360 lives as a result of pyroclastic flows, ash, tephra and
lahars.
Over the years victims of the eruption, have been discovered in a
perfectly preserved state due to the ash and mud, giving us an insight to the
agony victims must have faced.
Since the 79 AD eruption Vesuvius has erupted a number of times,
killing large numbers of people, in which the last was in 1944 and is believed
to be dormant at present, over due to an eruption any time. Mudslides and lava
flows from the eruption in 1631 killed over 3, 500 people and about 3,360
people died from ash fall and pyroclastic flows in the 79AD eruption.
Lake Nyos, Cameroon 1986:
Lake Nyos is a volcanic
crater lake located in northwest Cameroon. In 1986 the release of 1.6 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide from the lake spread as a dense cloud, 25 km away from
the lake killing 1746 people and 8300 livestock in surrounding villages. 3460
people were also moved to temporary shelters due to the severe risk of
asphyxiation (suffocation) which was the cause of death. This tragedy occurred
at night when the villagers were asleep and therefore having no chance of
survival. The characteristics of the gas; being both odourless and colourless
is what makes it so lethal since the victims would have had no awareness of its
presence.
The Lake is now degassed to
release controlled amounts of carbon dioxide in order to prevent a similar
tragedy from occurring again.
·
Soufriere Hills, Montserrat Leeward Islands,
Caribbean 1995-Present:
After years of dormancy
Soufriere Hills, a stratovolcano became active in 1995. The volcano has had on
going activity which has consisted of destructive pyroclastic flows and surges,
debris flows, lahars, dome collapse and tephra falls as well as seismic
activity. The continuous activity led to the evacuation of most of the island’s
population over the years, especially after the destruction of the Island’s capital
Plymouth. Plymouth, along with various small villages were destroyed and buried
under thick layers of ash, debris and pyroclastic flows deposits, leaving them
uninhabitable even today.
1997 was when the most
explosive eruption occurred, killing 19 people who were in the restricted zones
despite constant warnings and advice. The Island’s airport was also destroyed
by pyroclastic flows and surges and had to be rebuilt at a different location.
Although some of the
Island’s population has once again returned, most of them have relocated on
neighbouring islands or abroad.
Today, the volcano’s on
going activity is closely monitored by scientists and warnings given when
necessary.
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Nyiragongo, Democratic
Republic of Congo 2002:
Nyiragongo erupted on January
7th 2002 , destroying 15% of the city of
Goma. Nyiragongo is well known for its large volumes of lava flows that cause
devastation and destruction to anything in its path. In 2002 the lava flows
spilt the city of Goma into sections, killing 147 of which 50 died during a
petrol station explosion. The eruption also destroyed 14,000 homes, left 75% of
the population displaced and led to the evacuation of 400, 000 people.
An eruption in 1977 also killed an estimated 2000 people and
destroyed villages in its path.
The volcano is active today, however due to the activity being
confined to the crater, no victims have been claimed. When the next disaster
will occur will only a matter of time.
Unzen, Japan 1972:
Mount Unzen is located on
the island of Kyushu, Japan and caused the worse known eruption the country has
ever witnessed. In 1972 the volcano killed an estimated 15,000 people when
tsunamis were generated following the collapse of domes caused by an
earthquake. Devastating lava flows were also blamed for the death toll.
The volcano also erupted
violently in 1991 following months of continuous seismic activity. Despite
12,000 people being evacuated, the eruption claimed 43 lives of scientists and
journalists. Since then numerous pyroclastic flows and lahars have been
generated, destroying over 2000 buildings.
Laki, Iceland 1783:
The eruption of Laki in 1783
is another example of volcanic activity which had global consequences. The
eruption in 1783 lasted for nearly a year and released 15 cubic kilometres of
lava over just 8 months. The lava released huge amounts of sulphur dioxide and
fluorine, which affected the climate causing famine and weather anomalies in
the Northern Hemisphere. As a result of drought, famine and gas poisoning, 9350
people died in Iceland as well as thousands of livestock.
A similar eruption of Laki
would have a huge consequence for the Northern Hemisphere today.
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