Top 5 Deadliest Volcanic Eruptions In Recent Times

The recent eruption of an Iceland volcano in the Reykjanes Peninsula expelled lava and smoke, covering a substantial land area measuring almost 100 to 200 cubic meters. This followed a series of seismic activities, posing a threat to Grindavik town and necessitating the evacuation of over 4,000 residents. In light of this, here's a compilation of the top 5 deadliest volcanic eruptions in recent times:

1.Shiveluch volcano eruption

The Shiveluch volcano in Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka peninsula is one of the largest and active volcano eruptions to have taken place. Located in Kamchatka, home to 29 volcanoes and a part of the vast belt of Earth also known as Ring of fire , it has erupted at least 60 times in the past 10,000 years.

The Shiveluch volcano erupted in 2023 ejecting volcanic gas smothering villages in drifts of grey volcanic dust and triggered an aviation warning. The eruption posed a potential risk to the commons and paralysed several villages as it spewed out an ash cloud over an area of 108,000sq km (41,700sq miles), according to the Kamchatka branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Science.

2. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption 

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is a submarine volcano located in the western south pacific ocean. It lies completely underwater and includes two small volcanic islands of Hunga tunga and Hunga Ha’apai .The volcano erupted violently in  January 2022 producing a plume of 58 km blasting rock ash and sediments straight high in the sky. Claiming  to have generated multiple pressure waves, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption is known to be the biggest atmospheric eruption till date.

The eruption caused New Zealand's North Island and Chatham Islands  to issue tsunami warnings. Boat destructions were also seen in Tutukaka Marina and more than 120  evacuated in Far North.

3. Mount Nyiragongo eruption

In May 2022 Mount Nyiragonga , an active volcano since 1971,lying in the volcano region of virguna national park in the democratic region of congo erupted violently without any warning. The molten lying innrads found another route to travel from causing the lava to erupt from fissures  flowing down to mountains towards the cities below leaving people either injured or missing. This eruption has been ongoing since 2002 and is leaving behind a trail of destruction.

4.Bezymianny volcano eruption

Bezymianny, part of the Klyuchevskoy volcano group on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, experienced a deadly eruption in June 2022. The eruption has been ongoing since 2016, featuring intense ash plumes soaring to an altitude of 15 kilometers. Additionally, the event was marked by significant gas and steam emissions, along with frequent thermal anomalies. The continued eruption during this period raised concerns and highlighted the dynamic nature of volcanic activity in the region.

5.Semeru Volcanic eruption 

Semeru Volcano, also known as the great mountain, situated on Indonesia's main island of Java, has become a major cause for concern, as emphasized by the authorities. The volcano in December 2022, among the most active and highest in Indonesia, inflicted significant damage, affecting over 5000 homes and numerous public buildings, leading to casualties and missing individuals. It unleashed hot ash clouds and rivers of lava down its slopes, prompting the evacuation of nearly 2,000 people exactly a year after its previous major eruption