1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

Photograph of the eruption column, May 18, 1980.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted. The eruption was recorded as a 5 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.

For two months before the eruption, earthquake trembles and steam was vented from the mouth of the volcano. 57 people died in the eruption.

1980 Eruption Of Mount St. Helens Media

• USGS photo showing a pre-avalanche eruption on April 10

• Photo showing the bulge growing due to a cryptodome on April 27

• Sequence of events on May 18

• Lakes nearest to Mount St. Helens have been partly covered with fallen trees for more than forty years. This photograph was taken in 2012.

• North Fork Toutle River valley filled with landslide deposits

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  Computer graphics showing the May 18 landslide (green) being overtaken by the initial pyroclastic flow (red)

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  Reid Blackburn's car after the eruption

• Mount St. Helens fractured tree.png

  Many trees in the direct blast zone were snapped off at their bases and the earth was stripped and scorched.

• MSH80 david johnston at camp 05-17-80 med (cropped).jpg

  Volcanologist David A. Johnston (pictured 13 hours before his death) was among the approximately 57 people killed by the eruption.

References

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