Thursday, June 18, 2009

Unzen Japan, 1792


Unzen is located in the Shimabara Peninsula and is east of the city of Nagasaki. In 1792, collapse of the Mayu-yama lava dome created an avalanche and tsunami that killed an estimated 14,524 people. Most of the people were killed by the tsunami.

Unzen is well know for Japan's greatest volcanic disaster. In 1792, about a month after lava stopped erupting from the volcano, a landslide from nearby Mount Mayuyama swept through ancient Shimabara City, entered the sea, and generated a tsunami that struck nearby areas. More than 15,000 people were killed by the landslide and tsunami. The amphitheater-shaped scar of the landslide is still clearly visible on Mount Mayuyama just above the city.



Samples taken from: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Japan/description_unzen.html

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