Which eruption in Indonesia caused the loudest sound recorded in modern history?

The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa caused the loudest sound recorded in modern history.

Krakatoa, also spelled Krakatau, was a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Its catastrophic eruption reached a climax on 27 August 1883, when enormous explosions destroyed much of the island. The sound was reportedly heard thousands of kilometres away, including on islands in the Indian Ocean and in Australia.

The eruption generated powerful tsunamis, some more than 30 metres high, which killed tens of thousands of people along nearby coastlines. Most deaths resulted from the tsunamis rather than from volcanic ash or lava. Atmospheric dust and aerosols also produced vivid sunsets and temporary global cooling.

Krakatoa is sometimes confused with Mount Tambora’s 1815 eruption, which was larger in overall volcanic explosivity and caused the “Year Without a Summer.” A new volcanic cone, Anak Krakatau, emerged in the caldera area during the 20th century and remains active.