Volcanoes that made history
Enormous eruptions altered Earth’s climate and societies all over the globe.
On a Monday, a telegram arrived in Singapore, originating from Batavia in the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia). The message conveyed "Terrific detonations from Krakatau (volcanic island)." Shortly after, another dispatch reported "Stones falling. Village near Anjer washed away." As news continued to flow in via telegraph wires, the scale of the disaster became apparent by noon on Tuesday: "Where once Mount Krakatau stood the sea now plays."
It was soon understood that a volcanic eruption had eradicated two islands situated in the strait between Java and Sumatra, along with most of a third. The catastrophe resulted in more than 36,000 fatalities, with the majority of casualties occurring due to massive tsunamis triggered by the colossal explosion.
The impact of this event was unprecedented, as it marked the first instance in history where people across the globe could document, in near real-time, the immediate and long-term consequences of a catastrophic volcanic eruption. This breakthrough, made possible by Victorian-era telecommunications, laid the groundwork for the modern field of volcanology.
The aftermath of this disaster also served as a stark reminder of the profound ways in which the largest eruptions can shape climate, agriculture, and even the course of human history.
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- Volcanoes that made history arstechnica.com
