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Volcanoes
VOLCANOES

Active volcanoes in the U.S. are found mainly in Hawaii, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. The United States is one of the most volcanically rich countries in the world, with 169 active and dormant volcanoes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Around 500 million people live near volcanoes, the majority of them in cities, according to a Munich Re analysis, which identified major cities at risk of volcanoes, including: Auckland (Auckland volcanic field); Vancouver (Mt. Baker); Seattle (Mt. Rainier); Tacoma (Mt. Rainier); Portland (Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens); Mexico City (Xitli); Surabaya (Ardjuno-Welirang); Semarang (Sundoro-Sumbing); Manila (Taal) and Tokyo (Fujiyama).

DEADLIEST VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS (1)


Year
Volcano
Major cause of deaths
Deaths
1815Tambora, IndonesiaStarvation92,000
1883Krakatau, IndonesiaTsunami36,417
1902Mount Pelee, MartiniqueAsh flows29,025
1985Ruiz, ColombiaMudflows25,000
1792Unzen, JapanVolcano collapse, tsunami14,300
1783Laki, IcelandStarvation9,350
1919Kelut, IndonesiaMudflows5,110
1882Galunggung, IndonesiaMudflows4,011
1631Vesuvius, ItalyMudflows, lava flows3,500
79 A.D.Vesuvius, ItalyAsh flows, falls3,360
1772Papandayan, IndonesiaAsh flows2,957
1951Lamington, Papua New GuineaAsh flows2,942
1982El Chichon, MexicoAsh flows2,000
1902Soufriere, St. VincentAsh flows1,680
1741Oshima, JapanTsunami1,475
1783Asama, JapanAsh flows, mudflows1,377
1911Taal, PhilippinesAsh flows1,335
1814Mayon, PhilippinesMudflows1,200
1963Agung, IndonesiaAsh flows1,184
1877Cotopaxi, EcuadorMudflows1,000
1991Pinatubo, PhilippinesDisease800
1640Komagatake, JapanTsunami700
1845Ruiz, ColombiaMudflows700
1951Hibok-Hibok, PhilippinesAsh flows500
(1) All eruptions with more than 500 known human fatalities.

Source: Volcano World. Web: volcano.und.edu/vw.html . 2007 Information Please Database.