Are you safe in water when a volcano erupts? Riaz Nathu, Grade 5 Toronto Canada

rocky Riaz

Dear Riaz,

It depends on many things. Let me give a few examples.

When Krakatau erupted in 1883 it generated a tsunami that carried a boat about 2 miles (3 km) inland.

Unzen, in Japan, erupted in 1792. A pyroclastic flow reached the ocean and made a tsunami. The tsunami killed about 14,000 people that lived along the coast.

In contrast, scuba divers in Hawaii swim very close to lava that is entering the ocean (I would not recommend this).

I remember something about fish surviving in lakes at Mount St. Helens. I can't hold my breath that long.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota

Source of Information: Francis, P., 1994, Volcanoes a planetary perspective: Oxford University Press, New York, 443 p. 

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