The
1883 eruption of Krakatoa in the
Dutch East Indies (now
Indonesia) began in the afternoon of August 26, 1883 (with origins as early as May of that year), and culminated with several destructive eruptions of the remaining
caldera. On August 27, two-thirds of
Krakatoa collapsed in a chain of titanic explosions, destroying most of the island and its surrounding archipelago. Additional alleged
seismic activity continued to be reported until February 1884, though reports of those after October 1883 were later dismissed by
Rogier Verbeek's investigation. It was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history, with at least 36,417 deaths being attributed to the eruption itself and the
tsunamis it created. Significant additional effects were also felt around the world.