|
 |
Over the past four centuries, volcanoes have killed more than a quarter
million people, most of whom perished in a handful of epic disasters. Some
volcanoes threatened populations with torrents of searing lava, as the African
volcano Nyiragongo did in January, 2002. But most deaths resulted from
secondary causes in the wake of an eruption—mudflows, tsunamis, and
starvation. As the following historic accounts illustrate, saving lives in the
future will require not just successful scientific forecasts, but also the
political will and resources to evacuate and provide aid to those in danger. To
revisit some of the worst volcanic disasters of the past 400 years, click on
the image at left.—Susan K. Lewis
| |
