Which 1883 volcanic eruption caused Krakatoa’s island to largely disappear?

The 1883 Krakatoa eruption caused much of the Indonesian volcanic island to disappear.

Krakatoa, also called Krakatau, lay in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. A sequence of eruptions began in May 1883 and reached its catastrophic climax on 27 August. The collapse of the volcano produced enormous explosions, pyroclastic flows, and tsunamis that devastated nearby coastlines.

The eruption’s sound was heard thousands of kilometres away, and atmospheric dust produced vivid sunsets around the world. More than 36,000 deaths were recorded, with most caused by tsunamis rather than direct volcanic effects. The original island’s collapse created a large submarine caldera.

A new volcanic cone, Anak Krakatau, meaning “Child of Krakatoa,” emerged from the caldera beginning in 1927. It remained active for decades and partly collapsed during an eruption in December 2018, generating another deadly tsunami. Krakatoa is often confused with Mount Tambora, whose 1815 eruption was larger and caused the “Year Without a Summer.”