Throughout history, volcanoes have triggered some of the most destructive natural disasters. These eruptions not only wiped out cities and populations but also caused long-lasting climate shifts. Here are four catastrophic eruptions that shook the world.

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• Krakatoa (Indonesia, 1883): destroyed island, 131-ft tsunamis, ~36,000 deaths
• Tambora (Indonesia, 1815): most powerful eruption recorded, ~100,000 deaths including indirect
• Tambora eruption caused “year without summer,” triggering global crop failure, famine
• Mount Pelée (Martinique, 1902): wiped out St Pierre, ~28,000 deaths, few survivors
• Mount Vesuvius (Italy, 79 AD): buried Pompeii & Herculaneum, killed thousands
• Vesuvius eruption sent ash 32 km into sky, extreme heat destroyed cities instantly
• Eruptions impact climate, trigger disease, food shortages, migration
• Volcanic debris and gas clouds create long-term environmental damage
• Active volcanoes can erupt again; dormant ones still pose future risks
• Monitoring and early warning crucial to reduce human toll in future