Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
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| Volcano | Year | Deaths | Major cause of deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tambora, Indonesia | 1815 | 92,000 | Starvation |
| Krakatau, Indonesia | 1883 | 36,417 | Tsunami |
| Mount Pelee, Martinique | 1902 | 29,025 | Ash flows |
| Ruiz, Colombia | 1985 | 25,000 | Mudflows |
| Unzen, Japan | 1792 | 14,300 | Volcano collapse, tsunami |
| Laki, Iceland | 1783 | 9,350 | Starvation |
| Kelut, Indonesia | 1919 | 5,110 | Mudflows |
| Galunggung, Indonesia | 1882 | 4,011 | Mudflows |
| Vesuvius, Italy | 1631 | 3,500 | Mudflows, lava flows |
| Vesuvius, Italy | 79 | 3,360 | Ash flows, falls |
| Papandayan, Indonesia | 1772 | 2,957 | Ash flows |
| Lamington, Papua New Guinea | 1951 | 2,942 | Ash flows |
| El Chichon, Mexico | 1982 | 2,000 | Ash flows |
| Soufriere, St. Vincent | 1902 | 1,680 | Ash flows |
| Oshima, Japan | 1741 | 1,475 | Tsunami |
| Asama, Japan | 1783 | 1,377 | Ash flows, mudflows |
| Taal, Philippines | 1911 | 1,335 | Ash flows |
| Mayon, Philippines | 1814 | 1,200 | Mudflows |
| Agung, Indonesia | 1963 | 1,184 | Ash flows |
| Cotopaxi, Ecuador | 1877 | 1,000 | Mudflows |
| Pinatubo, Philippines | 1991 | 800 | Disease |
| Komagatake, Japan | 1640 | 700 | Tsunami |
| Ruiz, Colombia | 1845 | 700 | Mudflows |
| Hibok-Hibok, Philippines | 1951 | 500 | Ash flows |
NOTE: All eruptions with more than 500 known human fatalities. Based on data in Volcanic Hazards: A Sourcebook on the Effects of Eruptions by Russell J. Blong (Academic Press, 1984).
Source: Volcano World. Web: volcano.und.edu/vw.html .
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