Lahar Timeline of Events

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Lahar

A lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water. The material flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley. The term is a shortened version of "berlahar" which originated in the Javanese language of Indonesia.-Description:"Lahar" is an Indonesian word that describes volcanic mudflows or debris flows...

Timeline of Events

1953

12.24.1953

Tangiwai disaster: A railway bridge is destroyed by a lahar at Tangiwai, in the Central North Island of New Zealand, sending a fully loaded passenger train into the Whangaehu River, and killing 153 people.

1964

3.1.1964

Villarrica Volcano begins a strombolian eruption causing lahars that destroy half of the town of Coñaripe.

1985

11.13.1985

The volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupts and melts a glacier, causing a lahar (volcanic mudslide) that buries Armero, Colombia, killing approximately 23,000 people.