On the morning of 27 August 1883, after four months of intermittent volcanic activity, Krakatoa, or more correctly Krakatau, went into terminal meltdown.
In a sequence of rapidly unfolding events, the island – actually an amalgamation of three separate volcanoes – was ripped apart by huge explosions.
Fragmented gas-rich magma entered the sea, setting off a series of giant tsunamis.
The paroxysmal explosion, which happened at 1002 local time, was the loudest sound in recorded history.
By the end of that day, three-quarters of the island had vanished and 40,000 people, mostly inhabitants of coastal settlements along western Java and southern Sumatra, were dead.
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