Mount St. Helens erupted #onthisday in 1980. Hear the harrowing stories of the people who were there in Make It Out Alive: https://bitly.com/3dryeH0 | Smithsonian Channel Aviation Nation

10K views · 202 reactions | On this day 41 years ago, Mount St. Helens erupted in southwestern Washington state. It was the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. This visible imagery was captured by the GOES-3 satellite on May 18, 1980. Read more about it: go.usa.gov/xHtzz | NOAA Satellite and Information Service | Facebook

🗓️ On This Day – May 18, 1980 At 8:32 AM, Mount St. Helens erupted in the most destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. The blast destroyed over 200 square miles of forest, scattered ash across multiple states, and took 57 lives. A massive landslide followed by a lateral explosion changed the mountain forever. Today marks 45 years since that eruption. It remains a defining moment in geological history and emergency response in the Pacific Northwest. 🌋 All archival footage and imagery used f