The 1883 Krakatoa eruption remains one of the deadliest volcanic events in recorded history, producing the loudest sound ever documented and killing over 36,000 people.
Key Facts
- Death toll
- At least 36,417 deaths
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 6
- Sound heard as far as
- 4,800 km away (Rodrigues near Mauritius)
- Island destroyed
- Over 70% of island and surrounding archipelago
- Acoustic wave circumference
- Circled the globe more than 3 times
- Eruption duration
- 20 May – 21 October 1883 (over 5 months)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The volcanic island of Krakatoa, situated in the Sunda Strait within the Dutch Empire, began a prolonged eruptive phase on 20 May 1883. Geological instability beneath the island built pressure over more than five months, culminating in a catastrophic sequence of explosions on 27 August 1883 that caused the island's magma chamber to collapse into a caldera.
On 27 August 1883, Krakatoa experienced its most destructive eruption, with the third explosion at 10:02 AM generating the loudest sound in recorded history, audible up to 4,800 kilometres away. The eruption achieved a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 6, destroyed over seventy percent of the island and its surrounding archipelago, and triggered massive tsunamis that compounded the destruction across the region.
At least 36,417 people were killed, primarily by the eruption-generated tsunamis. Significant climatic and atmospheric effects were observed globally in the days and weeks that followed. Seismic activity continued until February 1884, though events after October 1883 were ultimately attributed to unrelated causes by Rogier Verbeek's official investigation into the eruption.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 36,417 (eruption)