The crater of the volcano Nevado Del Ruiz smolders on 17 November 1985, 3 days after its eruption which destroyed the mountain town of Armero in Colombia. Over 23,000 people were confirmed dead.

The crater of the volcano Nevado Del Ruiz smolders on 17 November 1985, 3 days after its eruption which destroyed the mountain town of Armero in Colombia. Over 23,000 people were confirmed dead.

A giant volcanic mushroom cloud exploded some 20 kilometers high from Mount Pinatubo in Philippines, on June 12, 1991 followed by another more powerful explosion. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 15, 1991 was the second largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century.

A giant volcanic mushroom cloud exploded some 20 kilometers high from Mount Pinatubo in Philippines, on June 12, 1991 followed by another more powerful explosion. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo on June 15, 1991 was the second largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century.

Mount Merapi volcano emits hot clouds of lava and volcanic ash as seen from Kali Tengah Lor district in Indonesia on the early morning of October 29, 2010. More than 20 of the 32 victims were buried in a mass grave in central Java as the country reeled from the twin disasters of eruption and a tsunami which struck Sumatra island, killing more than 300 people.

Mount Merapi volcano emits hot clouds of lava and volcanic ash as seen from Kali Tengah Lor district in Indonesia on the early morning of October 29, 2010. More than 20 of the 32 victims were buried in a mass grave in central Java as the country reeled from the twin disasters of eruption and a tsunami which struck Sumatra island, killing more than 300 people.

Rwanda soldiers escape from the erupting volcano of Mount Nyiragongo, Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo on 18 January 2002. Tens of thousands of residents of Goma fled their homes, around 147 people died and vast areas of the town were set ablaze by the lava flows from the volcano.

Rwanda soldiers escape from the erupting volcano of Mount Nyiragongo, Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo on 18 January 2002. Tens of thousands of residents of Goma fled their homes, around 147 people died and vast areas of the town were set ablaze by the lava flows from the volcano.

The image received by NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite shows the view from space of the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the 19th century, Krakatoa (top L), between Indonesia's islands of Java and Sumatra, with a wispy ash plume rising above the volcano on July 31, 2011. In 1883, a volcano shattered the Pacific island of Krakatoa, causing a blast so loud that it could be heard 4,500 kilometres away, followed by a tsunami that killed some 30,000 people.

The image received by NASA's Earth Observing-1 satellite shows the view from space of the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the 19th century, Krakatoa (top L), between Indonesia's islands of Java and Sumatra, with a wispy ash plume rising above the volcano on July 31, 2011. In 1883, a volcano shattered the Pacific island of Krakatoa, causing a blast so loud that it could be heard 4,500 kilometres away, followed by a tsunami that killed some 30,000 people.

The aerial picture taken on September 28, 2014 shows white smoke rising from Mount Ontake at Nagano in Japan, one day after it erupted, killing 57 people and injuring dozens. Rescuers rushed to help dozens of hikers stranded on an erupting volcano in central Japan.

The aerial picture taken on September 28, 2014 shows white smoke rising from Mount Ontake at Nagano in Japan, one day after it erupted, killing 57 people and injuring dozens. Rescuers rushed to help dozens of hikers stranded on an erupting volcano in central Japan.