1888 eruption of Mount Bandai

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1888 eruption of Mount Bandai
Ukiyo-e print by Tankei depicting the 1888 eruption of Mount Bandai
Volcano	Mount Bandai
Start date	July 15, 1888 (1888-07-15)
End date	July 15, 1888 (1888-07-15)
Type	Explosive eruption
Location	Iwashiro Province (now part of Fukushima Prefecture), Empire of Japan 37°36′46″N 140°04′34″E / 37.612787°N 140.076194°E / 37.612787; 140.076194
VEI	4

The 1888 eruption of Mount Bandai was a major volcanic eruption which occurred during the Meiji period of the Empire of Japan. The eruption occurred on July 15, 1888, pyroclastic flows buried villages on the northern foot of the mountain, and devastated the eastern part of Bandai region, Iwashiro Province (now part of Fukushima Prefecture) north of Tokyo.^[1] At least 477 people were killed, and hundreds more were injured and rendered homeless.^[2]

Mount Bandai is a stratovolcano. Its most recent previous eruption had occurred in 806. Mount Bandai had a conical profile, and had been compared in literature with Mount Fuji. The Bandai volcano consisted of four peaks: O-bandai (1,819 meters), Kushigamine (1,636 meters), Akahaniyama (1,427 meters), and Ko-bandai which was slightly lower than that of O-bandai.

Small earthquakes were reported on 8, 9 and 10 July. Moderate earthquakes occurred on 13 and 14 July. However, as earthquakes are commonplace all over Japan, these tremors were not viewed by the local populace with great concern.