Final answer:
In the last century, volcanic eruptions have caused numerous fatalities, with specific notable eruptions causing tens to hundreds of thousands of deaths. The development of monitoring and emergency response has helped reduce fatalities in recent times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The last century has seen a significant number of fatalities due to volcanic eruptions. The most notorious historical eruption is that of Krakatoa in 1883, which caused over 36,000 deaths, and possibly as many as 120,000, according to some local estimates. Another catastrophic event was the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, which destroyed the city of Pompeii and resulted in many deaths, as evidenced by the casts of victims found in the excavation of the site. Additionally, modern eruptions such as the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens resulted in 57 fatalities, illustrating that despite improved monitoring and evacuation procedures, volcanic eruptions continue to pose a significant threat to human life.
Volcanic activity is often associated with subduction zones, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another, often leading to natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes. For example, in 2004, a subduction zone event led to a massive earthquake and tsunami that killed over 200,000 people. While mostly related to earthquakes, such seismic activity often precedes volcanic eruptions, highlighting the interconnected nature of these geologic hazards.
Through monitoring, research, and enforcement of restricted zones, modern mitigation efforts have been able to reduce the number of deaths due to volcanic eruptions. This has been evident in cases such as the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, where proactive measures prevented a much higher death toll.