It was rated a 6 on Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), making it the second largest eruption in the 20th century. The blast lowered Mount Pinatubo’s peak from 1,745 meters to 1,485 meters, creating a caldera 2,5 kilometers in diameter in its place. The eruption released over 22 million tn (short tons) of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. The column of ash and smoke was over 30 kilometers high. The climatic phase lasted for about 15 hours. Over 350 people perished during the eruption.
