Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano

[MIKA27]

Lightning flashes over icy volcano

Spectacular pictures have been captured of a lightning display over Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano which continues to erupt.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been stranded across the globe as a result of the eruption which has shut down the airspace across Europe for the fifth day in a row.

More than 25,000 flights have so far been grounded in what has been billed as the single biggest aviation incident since the Second World War.

MIKA: The photos are amazing.

If the ash continues, Ken may just find himself becomming a resident in Italy.

On a serious note however, I do hope those effected recover and no loss of lives eventuate as a result of this erruption.

[SandmanTR]

Wow!!!! That lightning is amazing. What great photos.

[reg]

I saw some of those pictures earlier today. simply amazing

[bunburyist]

Fantastic. Just goes to show how precarious the balance on our little planet really is

[MIKA27]

I just read that the last time the same volcano errupted was between 1821 to 1823!

If thats the case and ash continues to spread, there may not be any flights...period.

[Kangaroo495]

I just read that the last time the same volcano errupted was between 1821 to 1823!

If thats the case and ash continues to spread, there may not be any flights...period.

Yeah, volcanoes can continue such periods of activity for any period of time. Could be a week. Could be 6 months. Could be more.

[KurtE]

Great Pictures

but how the **** do you pronounce that name?

[MrGlass]

Some of those look so cool. Thanks

[CigarmanTim]

Incredible pics Mika

[anacostiakat]

Great pictures indeed! Thanks!!!

[acidmase]

The first pictures crazy!

[dicko]

stunning photos!

[Blackham]

very historically valuable photos, these guys have risked their lives to photo these

some of the ashes have spread to Canada last night, now i'm worried

[mazolaman]

You can smell the ashes in the air in various parts of Britain.

We've also had some fantastic sunsets,due to the atmospheric pollution.

Those Photos are cool.

[Joachim]

This volcano itself is not the big problem, because scientists are worried that the much bigger volcano Katla can become active as a reaction to what we see now. And if Katla becomes active then the outcome can be some major global problems.

A geophysicist on iceland said it was atleast a 75% chance that this would happen. And this could shut down air-travel for years to come. + the melting of the ice glaciers that could have catastrofical impact on the environment.

[JMH]

Bloody volcano may potentially ruin my weekend.

[OZCUBAN]

Fantastic photos Mika "Our man on the ground "

Cheers Bud

[ARRV]

More than 25,000 flights have so far been grounded in what has been billed as the single biggest aviation incident since the Second World War"

incident? Really?

I heard this quote used on the tele the other day as well - normally such sensationalist rubbish from the media doesn't bother me but this did for some reason.

First, you can hardly compare the inconvenience of a delayed flight / overstay on your holiday etc with the danger, heriocs and horror of the air battle of WW2. Just mindless comparison really.

Second, Sept 11 anyone? WTF - is the media's memory that short?

Third, Berlin air drop - pretty big - beginning of Cold War so I can understand it being forgotten but it was also realtively soon after WW2 so if you're looking at that era and aviation it would be pretty f**king obvious.

4th Laos / Vietnam 1960s/70s ?? Anyone, anyone, anyone, Voodoo economics?

People being delayed is not fun, sure, but the media really needs some perspective

[MIKA27]

The World’s Worst Volcanic Eruptions

As Measured by Death Toll

This list of the world’s worst volcanic eruptions includes only those whose death toll can be reasonably documented. The death toll from some of the worst eruptions in history can only be guessed. The eruption of Santorini in Greece in 1650 BC destroyed competely destroyed entire civilizations. Scientist also theorize that an eruption of Tuba around 75,000 years ago caused a volcanic winter that came close to wiping out mankind.

1.

Mt. Tambora, Indonesia

April 10 - 15, 1816

Death Toll: 92,000

The eruption of Tambora killed an estimated 92,000 people, including 10,000 from explosion and ash fall, and 82,000 from other related causes.

The concussion from the explosion was felt as far as a thousand miles away. Mt. Tambora, which was more than 13,000 feet tall before the explosion was reduced to 9,000 feet after ejecting more than 93 cubic miles of debris into the atmosphere.

The effects of the eruption were felt worldwide: 1816 became known as the “year without a summer” because of the volcanic ash in the atmosphere that lowered worldwide temperatures. It snowed in New England that June, and crop failures were common throughout Northern Europe and North America. As many as 100,000 additional deaths from starvation in these areas are thought to be traced to the eruption.

2.

Mt. Pelee, West Indies

April 25 - May 8, 1902

Death Toll: 40,000

Thought to be dormant, Mt. Pelee began a series of eruptions on April 25, 1902. The primary eruption, on May 8 completely destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing 25,000. The only survivors were a man held in a prison cell, and a man who lived on the outskirts of the town. Several ships also were destroyed with all hands.

3.

Mt. Krakatoa, Indonesia

August 26 - 28, 1883

Death Toll: 36,000

The August 1883 of Mt. Krakatoa (Krakatua) destroyed 2/3 of the island, ejecting more than six cubic miles of debris into the atmosphere. The sound of the explosion was the loudest ever documented, and was heard as far away as Australia.

Interestingly, it’s probable that no one died in the initial explosion. The casualties all came from the resulting tsunami.

4.

Nevado del Ruiz, Columbia

November 13, 1985

Death Toll: 23,000

A small eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano melted part of the volcano’s ice cap, creating an enormous mudslide that buried the city of Armero, killing 23,000.

5.

Mt. Unzen, Japan

1792

Death Toll: 12,000 - 15,000

The eruption of Mt. Unzen was followed by an earthquake, which collapsed the east flank of the dome. The resulting avalance created a tsuanami which killed 12,000 to 15,000 in nearby towns.

6.

Mt. Vesuvius, Italy

April 24, AD 79

Death Toll: 10,000+

In one of the most famous eruptions of all time, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and completely destroyed the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The eruption, which is said to have lasted 19 hours, buried Pompeii in ten feet of volcanic ash. The intense heat—perhaps as much as 750 degrees—carbonized much of the organic material in the area. Many of the victims have been found with the tops of their heads missing—their brains having boiled and exploded.

7.

The Laki Volcanic System, Iceland

June 8, 1783 - February 1784

Death Toll: 9350

Nearly a year of constant eruptions created a dusty volcanic haze that created massive food shortages. Iceland suffered 9,350 deaths mostly due to starvation.

8.

Mt. Vesuvius, Italy

December 1631

Death Toll: 6,000

The notorious Mt. Vesuvius has erupted more than a dozen times since it destroyed the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The 1631 eruption killed as many as 6,000 people when lava flows consumed many of the surrounding towns. Boiling water ejected from the volcanos added to the destruction.

9.

Mt. Kelut, Indonesia

May 19, 1919

Death Toll: 5,110

Most of the casualties apparently were the result of mudslides.

10.

Mt. Galunggung, Java, Indonesia

1882

Death Toll: 4,011