World Map › Major Eruptions › Cotopaxi Volcano 1768
Historic Eruption
1768 Eruption of Cotopaxi Volcano
4 April 1768 · Stratovolcano · Ecuador
On 4 April 1768, Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador erupted. The volcano rises to 5,911 m. Its Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is 4 out of 8, that of a cataclysmic eruption ejecting more than 0.1 km³ of material. The exact death toll is not known. NOAA estimates that it killed between 101 and 1,000 people. Most deaths were caused by lahars (volcanic mudflows).
- Date
- 4 April 1768
- Volcano
- Cotopaxi volcano
- Volcano Type
- Stratovolcano
- Elevation
- 5,911 m
- Country
- Ecuador
- Explosivity Index (VEI)
- 4 out of 8
- Estimated Deaths
- 101 to 1,000 deaths
- Estimated Damage
- 5 to 25 million US dollars
- Main Causes of Death
- Lahars
Other Significant Eruptions of Cotopaxi volcano
- 1877June 1877 Eruption · VEI 4 · Lahars340 deaths
- 1742December 1742 Eruption · VEI 3 · Lahars
- 1742June 1742 Eruption · VEI 3 · Lahars
- 16981698 Eruption · VEI 3 · Lahars
- 455 BCE455 BCE Eruption · VEI 4 · Lahars
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database (doi:10.7289/V5JW8BSH) · Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program