The eruption had a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 7 , making it one of the largest eruptions of the current Holocene epoch . Eruptions of comparable intensity include the Kurile lake eruption ( in Kamchatka , Russia ) in the 7th millennium BC , the Mount Mazama ( United States , Oregon ) eruption in the 6th millennium BC , the Minoan eruption ( in Santorini , Greece ) between 1627 and 1600 BC , and the Tierra Blanca Joven eruption of Lake Ilopango ( El Salvador ) in the 6th century . Such large volcanic eruptions can result in catastrophic impacts on humans and widespread loss of life both close to the volcano and at greater distances
Minoan eruption
Minoan eruption
1257 Samalas eruption