Aogashima

April 18, 1785 Eruption of Aogashima

April 18, 1785 · VEI 3 · 135 deaths

Aogashima in Japan erupted on April 18, 1785 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. The eruption killed 135 people.

Where it erupted

Aogashima, Japan, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
April 18, 1785
Volcano
Aogashima, stratovolcano
Country
Japan
Volcanic Explosivity Index
3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
Location
32.458° N, 139.759° E

The toll

Deaths
135

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

130-140 killed by explosion in last month of 5 year eruption after rescue oats from Hachijo-jima did not have room for all residents. Island abandoned for 50 years. (reference #9675)

An estimated 130 to 140 of the 327 residents at the time were killed. The rest evacuated to Hachijojima. (reference #12936)

Other significant eruptions of Aogashima

More

Every eruption in 1785The 1700sAogashimaEarthquakes near AogashimaThis day in weather history

Sources

Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 2592.