1883day.year
Krakatoa begins to erupt; the volcano explodes three months later, killing more than 36,000 people.
Krakatoa begins erupting in Indonesia, setting the stage for one of history’s deadliest volcanic explosions.
On May 20, 1883, the volcano Krakatoa in Indonesia began a series of eruptions that would culminate in one of history’s most devastating volcanic explosions. Early explosions rained ash and pumice over nearby islands, disrupting life and navigation in the Sunda Strait. Seismographs detected mounting activity as pressure built within the volcanic vents. The dramatic prelude set the stage for the catastrophic eruption on August 27, which claimed over 36,000 lives. The Krakatoa event profoundly impacted climate, global weather patterns, and scientific understanding of volcanic phenomena.
1883
Krakatoa
begins to erupt