Toya

October 24, 1978 Eruption of Toya

October 24, 1978 · VEI 3 · 3 deaths

Toya in Japan erupted on October 24, 1978 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. The eruption killed 3 people.

Where it erupted

Toya, Japan, with its other significant eruptions.

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The eruption

Date
October 24, 1978
Volcano
Toya, stratovolcano
Country
Japan
Volcanic Explosivity Index
3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
Killed by
Secondary (post-eruption) mudflows
Location
42.544° N, 140.839° E

The toll

Deaths
3
Injuries
2

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.

Deaths at Toyako-onsen resulted from mudflows derived from newly deposited tephra. 2 injuries also reported. (reference #9675)

October 16 and 24, 1978: Rain caused a secondary lahar resulting in 2 deaths, 1 missing person, 2 slight injuries, damage to 196 houses, damage to 9 other buildings, and damage to agricultural and forest equipment, civil engineering facilities, and sewer and water system. (reference #12936)

Other significant eruptions of Toya

More

Every eruption in 1978The 1900sToyaEarthquakes near ToyaThis 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 2699.