The worst destruction from a volcano is the loss of lives. Many people have people have died in lava flows and from volcanic activity. Lava crushes and buries homes in its path and will uproot trees. If it is hot enough it can catch everything on fire. Large volcanic bombs are powerful enough to blast through the roofs of homes and buildings. Even volcanic ash can start fires where it lands.

Magma gives off poisonous gases, including sulfur fumes and carbon monoxide. The most dangerous gas is carbon monoxide, an invisible and odorless gas. It collects in valleys where it becomes more dense. People and animals die from inhaling it. Sulfur is a strong, yellow substance and can cause people and animals to cough, but usually is no worse than that unless someone has a lung condition. Then if the sulfur level is too high, those with weak lungs can die or become extremely ill.

As lahar flows down the mountain sides, it can wash away houses and cause as much damage as the lava. Trees and plants can be uprooted.

Volcanoes can be just as devastating as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes or other natural disasters. Many lives are lost. Damage to buildings and land is very expensive to repair or replace. Now that volcanologists are better able to predict an eruption, more lives are saved.

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