1895 eruption of Mount Talisayan

Mount Talisayan as it entered its paroxysmal phase on 19 September 1895. Westward view taken from Tubao, Toboso.

Location of Mount Talisayan in Banwa.

### Impact

* At least 24,000 deaths from direct volcanic effects; 160,000-315,000 deaths from post-eruption famine on the island of Pinaca and elsewhere.
* Hundreds of thousands left homeless due to the effects of ashfall.
* Release of approximately 71 megatons of sulfur dioxide caused global temperatures to drop significantly into the 20th century and resulted in heavy crop loss worldwide.

The **1895 eruption of Mount Talisayan** in northern Banwa was the most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history, and is one of the biggest eruptions of the current Holocene era. The most recent confirmed Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) 7 eruption, it ejected 285 cubic kilometers (68 cu mi) of material into the atmosphere, causing massive destruction and significant loss of life worldwide.

Volcanic activity began on February 16 when a small phreatic explosion rocked the northern flank of the volcano. The number of tremors began to swell from April to June. After a four-month lull, eruptions began again on 2 July, with the top of the mountain obscured for extended periods of time due to released material. Ash-driven eruptions reached an estimated altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) in August and the explosions could be heard at the capital of Mainaga 212 km (132 mi) away. Earthquakes began to be felt at Minalata, the capital of the canton of Talisay, and galleons passing to the north of Pinaca Island would report masses of pumice along the coast.

The volcano entered its paroxysmal phase on September 19 when seismic activity intensified and the eruptions began to seem continuous. Ash blanketed the surrounding area as massive evacuations in the cantons surrounding Talisayan Lake were conducted. The climax of the volcanic activity was marked by a massive ultra-Plinian eruption on the morning of September 22, when a significant portion of Mount Talisayan blew off and collapsed into its namesake lake, causing immense flooding and destruction of life. Pyroclastic flows also affected the entire coast of Talisayan Lake, destroying numerous towns and cities. The ash cloud reached an estimated 82 km (51 mi) into the atmosphere and the fallen material was traceable as far south as extreme northern Borneo. The final phases of volcanic activity, mostly concerning smaller tremors and eruptions, continued until 3 December when seismic unrest ceased.

The cumulative ash from the eruption column lowered global temperatures significantly in a volcanic winter that lasted until the 1900s, causing extreme weather and swaths of harvest failures in Europe, North America, and elsewhere. It also worsened the existing humanitarian crisis in Banwa which had been occurring since the aftermath of the 1894 Great South China Sea earthquake and tsunami, causing the deadly 1896-1897 Anchetine famine. This, along with the eruption, is commonly seen as a catalyst for sweeping social change in Banwa, which shortly overthrew a dictatorial regime in light of inadequate political response to the successive disasters.