Awe-Inspiring Volcanic Eruptions Around The World

Published May 18, 2016
Updated January 9, 2018
Eruption Mount Saint Helens

Mount St. Helens erupts on May 18, 1980. USGS/Robert Krimmel

On May 18, 1980, the United States suffered one of the most destructive natural disasters in history: The eruption of Mount St. Helens. Yet, over just the last ten years, even that eruption has been both equaled and eclipsed by other volcanoes around the world, ones that display the awesome power and beauty of one nature’s most devastating forces.

Volcanic Eruptions

In North Sumatra, Indonesia, Mt. Sinabung erupted on October 13, 2014. Mt. Sinabung was dormant for 400 years but in the aftermath of its eruption, 13 people were killed and 3,000 more were displaced. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images

Tonga Eruption

An undersea volcano is seen erupting off the coast of Tonga on March 18, 2009. This underwater volcano is among 36 others surrounding Tonga. Dana Stephenson/Getty Images

Mount Merapi

Mount Merapi in Indonesia leaks lava in October 2010. The volcano continuously erupted for almost a month, finally subsiding on November 30. The eruptions resulted in the evacuation of 350,000 people, and the deaths of 353. ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images

Mexico Volcano

Mexico’s Colima volcano (also known simply as the “Fire volcano”) spews smoke and ash on July 11, 2015. This is one of the most active volcanoes in North America. HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images

Guatemala Volcano

The Fuego volcano near Guatemala City erupted on November 10, 2015. The volcano had erupted before, in 1974 and 2007. This latest round of activity began in 2012. JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Mayon Volcano

Lava flows from Mayon volcano on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The volcano continued to be active until 2014. ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images

Lightning Lava

A high column of ash and lava spews from Chile’s Calbuco volcano on April 23, 2015. DAVID CORTES SEREY/AFP/Getty Images

Volcanic Eruptions Pictures

On September 27, 2014, white smoke rises during the eruption of Japan’s Mount Ontake. MINISTRY OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE/AFP/Getty Images

Volcano Tree

A cloud of ashes billows from the Puyehue volcano near Osorno, Chile on June 20, 2011. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images


Next, check out Iceland’s volcanoes. Then, read about some of the most electrifying volcano eruptions.

author
Elisabeth Sherman
author
Elisabeth Sherman is a writer living in Jersey City, New Jersey. She holds a Master's in writing from Columbia University, and her work has appeared in Food & Wine, The Guardian, Yahoo, BBC, HuffPost, VICE, MSN, and Vulture.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.