August 12, 1971 Eruption of Cerro Hudson
Cerro Hudson in Chile erupted on August 12, 1971 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. The eruption killed 3 people, counting its secondary effects.
Where it erupted
Cerro Hudson, Chile, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- August 12, 1971
- Volcano
- Cerro Hudson, stratovolcano
- Country
- Chile
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
- Killed by
- Mudflows and lahars
- Location
- 45.900° S, 72.970° W
The toll
- Deaths
- 5; 3 with the tsunamis, mudflows and other effects it caused
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.
Lahar mobilized by melting ice down Rio de Los Huemules. Adult and 3 children reported missing; houses remained intact, filling to ceiling with mud and clasts. Witham lists range of 3-5 fatalities, accepts 5 figure.
Other significant eruptions of Cerro Hudson
More
Every eruption in 1971The 1900sCerro HudsonEarthquakes near Cerro HudsonThis 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 4507.