Photo credit: Associated Press

Mount St. Helens Erupts

In April and May of 1980, Mount Saint Helens in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States erupted explosively, blowing the side of the mountain off and destroying an estimated 230 square miles of timber and wildlife. Fifty-seven people were killed in the event.

Geologists had predicted the event several weeks in advance, correctly indicating that the mountain was critically unstable, but many people ignored the warnings and some of those paid the ultimate price.

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