No. 10 - Unzen, Japan, 1792

 
Mount Unzen's biggest eruption happened way back in 1792, when, along with a related tsunami, it killed 15,000 people. The Japanese volcano was largely quiet for the next 200 years or so. And then Unzen began to rumble. It started to ooze lava a couple weeks before it violently erupted in 1991, killing 43 people, including a group of scientists and reporters, and forcing the evacuation of thousands of homes. It remained active, releasing lava and ash until about 1995. Since then, it's been getting some much-needed rest.

Top 10 Volcanic Eruptions    10   9   8   7   6   5   4   3   2   1    Next »

More Top 10s

piltdown Top 10 Science Hoaxes
You might know about Piltdown Man, but what about the deadly cake? 		mad scientist Top 10 Mad Scientists
The original Dr. Evil. 		mating Top 10 Mating Rituals
No gin fizzes necessary!
deadliest, diseases Top 10 Deadly Diseases
What are the most common, but deadliest, diseases? 		organs Top 10 Useless Body Parts
Anyone who's had a wisdom tooth pulled will know what we mean. 		accidental inventions Top 10 Accidental Inventions
When whoops! really works out for the best.
 
 
advertisement

Shop Science Channel

 
 
newsletter
 
 

our sites

video

shop

stay connected

corporate

Image Credits DCL | Ingo Jezierski/Getty Images

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC. The number-one nonfiction media company.