An underwater volcanic collapse in 1888 triggered forty foot tsunamis in minutes
The 1888 collapse of Ritter Island produced a tsunami so powerful it devastated coastlines in minutes, yet it remains one of history's most underreported volcanic disasters.
In just 15 minutes, an underwater volcanic collapse obliterated 80% of Ritter Island in Papua New Guinea. This event triggered massive 40-foot tsunamis that claimed approximately 3,000 lives on neighboring islands. The energy released was ten times more powerful than the famous Krakatoa eruption of 1883.
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