The Laki Fissure Eruption

from Compact Disasters · host Compact Disasters

On 8 June 1783, a volcanic fissure opened in southern Iceland and began an eruption that would continue for eight months. Laki produced one of the largest lava flows of the historical period, poisoned Iceland's pastures, destroyed much of its livestock and contributed to a famine that killed thousands. Its sulphurous haze spread across Europe, causing respiratory problems and disrupting the climate across the Northern Hemisphere. This episode examines how the eruption developed, why its gases proved more destructive than its lava and what modern science has revealed about its wider consequences. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #CompactDisasters #LakiEruption #Lakagígar #Iceland #Volcanoes #NaturalDisasters #VolcanicEruption #DisasterHistory

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 1, 2026

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This episode was published on August 1, 2026.

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