Notable volcanic eruptions from 79 AD to 2023, with VEI, death toll, eruption type, and key effects for 50 major events worldwide.
Year | Volcano Name | Country | VEI | Deaths | Eruption Type | Notable Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | Vesuvius | Italy | 5 | 16000 | Plinian | Buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash and pyroclastic flows |
| 1006 | Merapi | Indonesia | 4 | 0 | Explosive | Major eruption; historical records incomplete |
| 1257 | Samalas | Indonesia | 7 | 0 | Ultra-Plinian | Largest known eruption of the last 7000 years; created Segara Anak caldera |
| 1362 | Öræfajökull | Iceland | 5 | 0 | Plinian | Destroyed Litla Hérað settlement; largest eruption in Iceland since settlement |
| 1450 | Kuwae | Vanuatu | 6 | 0 | Caldera-forming | Massive eruption that split island; caused global cooling |
| 1600 | Huaynaputina | Peru | 6 | 1500 | Plinian | Largest historical eruption in South America; triggered global climate effects |
| 1631 | Vesuvius | Italy | 3 | 4000 | Explosive | Major eruption after long dormancy; pyroclastic flows reached sea |
| 1641 | Parker | Philippines | 5 | 0 | Plinian | Major eruption; linked to global cooling of 1641-1643 |
| 1669 | Etna | Italy | 3 | 20000 | Effusive | Lava flows destroyed Catania; largest historical eruption of Etna |
| 1693 | Sicily Earthquake/Etna | Italy | 3 | 60000 | Seismic | Earthquake and eruption combined; one of Italy's deadliest natural disasters |
| 1711 | Awu | Indonesia | 3 | 3000 | Explosive | Lahars and pyroclastic flows destroyed villages |
| 1741 | Oshima-Oshima | Japan | 4 | 1475 | Flank Collapse | Triggered massive tsunami killing thousands |
| 1783 | Laki | Iceland | 4 | 9350 | Fissure | Erupted for 8 months; caused famine across Iceland; European fog |
| 1792 | Unzen | Japan | 2 | 14524 | Dome collapse | Pyroclastic flow and tsunami; deadliest volcanic disaster in Japan |
| 1815 | Tambora | Indonesia | 7 | 71000 | Ultra-Plinian | Largest eruption in recorded history; caused Year Without a Summer globally |
| 1822 | Galunggung | Indonesia | 5 | 4011 | Plinian | Pyroclastic flows and lahars devastated the region |
| 1835 | Cosigüina | Nicaragua | 5 | 0 | Plinian | One of largest eruptions of 19th century; ash reached Mexico and Jamaica |
| 1883 | Krakatau | Indonesia | 6 | 36417 | Caldera-forming | Explosion heard 4800 km away; caused global temperature drop |
| 1888 | Bandai | Japan | 3 | 477 | Lateral blast | Sector collapse triggered massive landslide and lateral blast |
| 1902 | Mont Pelée | Martinique | 4 | 29025 | Pelean | Destroyed Saint-Pierre; pyroclastic surge killed entire city |
| 1902 | Santa María | Guatemala | 6 | 6000 | Plinian | One of largest 20th century eruptions; devastated farmland |
| 1912 | Novarupta | United States | 6 | 0 | Plinian | Largest 20th century eruption; created Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes |
| 1914 | Sakurajima | Japan | 2 | 58 | Lava flow | Major eruption connecting Sakurajima to mainland; still active |
| 1919 | Kelud | Indonesia | 4 | 5160 | Crater lake explosion | Lahars destroyed dozens of villages |
| 1930 | Merapi | Indonesia | 3 | 1369 | Explosive | Pyroclastic flows and hot gases killed villagers |
| 1943 | Parícutin | Mexico | 3 | 0 | Cinder cone | New volcano appeared in cornfield; active for 9 years |
| 1951 | Lamington | Papua New Guinea | 4 | 2942 | Pelean | Pyroclastic surge; previously not recognized as a volcano |
| 1963 | Agung | Indonesia | 5 | 1148 | Plinian | Most deadly eruption of 20th century in Indonesia at that time |
| 1963 | Surtsey | Iceland | 3 | 0 | Surtseyan | New volcanic island formed in North Atlantic; still above sea level |
| 1968 | Arenal | Costa Rica | 3 | 78 | Explosive | After 400 years of dormancy; eruption and lava flows killed villagers |
| 1980 | Mount St. Helens | United States | 5 | 57 | Lateral blast | Largest historic eruption in contiguous US; lateral blast devastated 600 km² |
| 1982 | El Chichón | Mexico | 5 | 1900 | Plinian | Largely unforeseen eruption; pyroclastic flows destroyed 9 villages |
| 1985 | Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 3 | 23080 | Effusive | Lahars buried Armero; deadliest volcanic disaster since 1902 |
| 1986 | Lake Nyos | Cameroon | 0 | 1800 | Limnic eruption | CO₂ gas burst from crater lake suffocated people in valley |
| 1991 | Pinatubo | Philippines | 6 | 847 | Plinian | Second largest 20th century eruption; caused global cooling of 0.5°C |
| 1994 | Merapi | Indonesia | 3 | 66 | Explosive | Pyroclastic flows killed rescue workers and journalists |
| 2002 | Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 1 | 245 | Effusive | Fastest lava flows recorded; destroyed much of Goma city |
| 2004 | Soufrière Hills | Montserrat | 3 | 19 | Explosive | Ongoing eruption since 1995; buried Plymouth; island partially evacuated |
| 2010 | Eyjafjallajökull | Iceland | 4 | 0 | Explosive | Ash cloud disrupted European air travel for 6 days; 100000 flights cancelled |
| 2010 | Merapi | Indonesia | 4 | 353 | Explosive | Deadliest Merapi eruption since 1930; lahars affected wide area |
| 2014 | Ontake | Japan | 3 | 63 | Phreatic | Sudden phreatic eruption killed hikers without warning |
| 2018 | Kīlauea | United States | 2 | 0 | Effusive | Lower East Rift Zone eruption; destroyed 700 homes in Leilani Estates |
| 2021 | Cumbre Vieja | Spain | 3 | 0 | Effusive | Erupted for 85 days; destroyed 3000 buildings on La Palma island |
| 2022 | Hunga Tonga | Tonga | 5 | 6 | Caldera-forming | Largest volcanic explosion since Krakatau; tsunami reached worldwide |
| 2023 | Litli-Hrútur | Iceland | 1 | 0 | Fissure | Reykjanes Peninsula eruption series; fourth eruption since 2021 |