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Over the past four centuries, volcanoes have killed more than
a quarter million people, most of whom perished in a handful
of epic disasters. Some volcanoes threatened populations with
torrents of searing lava, as the African volcano Nyiragongo
did in January, 2002. But most deaths resulted from secondary
causes in the wake of an eruption—mudflows, tsunamis,
and starvation. As the following historic accounts illustrate,
saving lives in the future will require not just successful
scientific forecasts, but also the political will and
resources to evacuate and provide aid to those in danger. To
revisit some of the worst volcanic disasters of the past 400
years, click on the image at left.—Susan K. Lewis
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