Before the tsunami that killed hundreds, Krakatoa’s massive eruption in 1883 rocked the world
- The force of the explosions during the 1883 eruption was reportedly 10,000 times stronger than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
- The eruption sent a plume of ash 27km into the air, affecting weather patterns across the globe for years, and plunging the surrounding area into darkness for days
The eruption of Anak Krakatoa that triggered a deadly tsunami on Saturday has a historic precedent in the eruption of the larger Krakatoa volcano in 1883.
At least 429 have died and 1,300 have been injured as a result of Saturday’s tsunami, which has displaced thousands from coastal communities in Java and Sumatra.
On August 27, 1883, the tiny volcanic island Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra blew itself into the history books, altering weather patterns around the world for years, killing an estimated 37,000 people, and inspiring the creation of an enduring work of art.
Indonesia remains one of the most tectonically active areas on Earth and is currently home to 127 active volcanoes. Much of the archipelago itself was formed by the shifting of three immense continental plates, causing islands to emerge out of the ocean floor.
Anak Krakatoa, “child of Krakatoa” rose in 1928 from the caldera blasted into the ocean during the eruption of its namesake. It has been erupting sporadically since, rising to its current height of about 300 metres above sea level as a result of lava flows.
Anak Krakatoa, also known as Krakatau, has been observed for eruptions for the past decade and has been especially active in the past six months.