On April 2nd, 1991, the first signs of volcanic activity were noticed after more than 600 years of inactivity. Finally on June 15th, a major eruption blew off the top of the volcano, creating a 1 1/4-mile wide crater. The peak of the volcano was lowered by 260 meters, from 1,745 meters to 1,485 meters. The new peak is along the Caldera Rim.
Here is a picture of the eruption:
You may have noticed that the eruption looks particularly violent. Well, being a composite volcano that hasn’t erupted for 600 years, you can probably imagine the pressure that would build up in that amount of time. All this pressure would obviously cause a massive explosion such as the one shown in this photograph.
This massive eruption caused the end of 847 peoples lives. During the eruption, 20 million tons of sulfuric acid were released into the surrounding air.
The explosion cost several hundred million dollars in damages, and forced the eruption of the U.S. Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.
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