5 Reasons the Volcano Eruption Broke Global Records
- The blast sent ash 12 miles high, disrupting flights across three continents and forcing a major international airport to shut down for the first time in decades.
- Scientists confirmed it was the most powerful eruption in 50 years, rivaling the 1991 Pinatubo event with a 6.1 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.
- Lava flows carved a new river of fire, swallowing over a dozen homes and alerting scientists to a previously unknown fault line beneath the sea.
- A rare blue-colored lightning storm lit up the ash cloud for six straight hours, creating a surreal scene visible from 200 miles away.
- The volcano’s rumble created a low-frequency sound wave that traveled around the planet twice, tracked by infrasound sensors designed to detect nuclear tests.