Break from the Grind May 18, 2010

TRIVIAL PURSUITS: How Many US Deaths From "Volcanic Activity?"

May 18, 2010 (PLANSPONSOR.com) -  As noted above, 57 people were killed during the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 (it might have been worse had it not occurred on a Sunday). 
Reported by

Prior to that event, how many people had died in the US from “volcanic activity?”  Was it “none”, “2”, or “56?” 

Answer:  2

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Within the United States before May 18, 1980, only two known casualties had been attributed to volcanic activity;

  • in 1924, a photographer was struck by falling rocks during the explosive eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii, and
  • an Army sergeant disappeared during the 1944 eruption of Cleveland Volcano, Chuginadak Island, Aleutians.

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