The 1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption
Episode 30 of 5 Minute Disasters explores the catastrophic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the most devastating volcanic disaster in United States history. On 18 May, a powerful explosion shattered the mountain, triggering a massive landslide and releasing an ash cloud that darkened skies for miles. The blast obliterated forests, destroyed homes, and claimed 57 lives, leaving behind a transformed landscape and an unprecedented case study for volcanologists. In this episode, we examine the events leading up to the eruption, the destruction it caused, and the lasting impact it had on science and disaster preparedness.
Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, by say, buying us a coffee, then please head on over to 5minutedisasters.com/coffee to see how.
An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutedisasters.com/the-1980-mount-st-helens-eruption/
Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts – 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Murder, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: