A catastrophic explosive eruption on the morning of May 18, 1980, triggered by the largest landslide in recorded history, which unroofed the volcano's bulging north flank and released a lateral blast. It remains the most economically destructive volcanic event in United States history.
Facts
Disputed
Death TollAbout 57, with documentation uncertainty in the range of 55 to 64 depending on whether indirect deaths are counted 1 Direct blast deaths are reasonably well established; totals that add indirect fatalities vary by source. Magnitude or ScaleVolcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 5 1 LocationSkamania County, Washington, United States 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Rated Volcanic Explosivity Index 5.
In Discipline
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