This tribute commemorates the 30th anniversary of June 3rd 1991, a day in which Mount Unzen’s Fugendake peak unleashed a flash flood of volcanic ash, rocks and gasses – a pyroclastic flow – which claimed the lives of 43 individuals. The volcano had been gradually awakening and rumbling for almost 8 months, and the eruptions were slowly growing more intense. These individuals had set up camp in the evacuation zone, either hoping to capture spectacular footage, to continue working in their fields, or were simply doing their job. This decision proved tragic.
Edited largely in chronological order, the shocking and often haunting footage in this tribute (collected across almost 7 years of personal research) tells the story of what happened, and is complemented by Olivier Floro’s gorgeous music for the documentary ‘Face Au Volcan Tueur’.
Dedicated to Katia and Maurice Krafft, Harry Glicken, 16 members of the mass media, 12 firefighters, 4 taxi drivers, 4 locals, 2 police officers and 2 council workers who all perished on that day.
Special thanks to Olivier Floro, as well as Fred and Barthélémy Fouga for giving me permission to use the music. You can find their work here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w81GSzjAnSU) and here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhHXx23XGRw).
I do not own any of the footage or music utilized in this tribute, and although the sources featured and the links to them are quite obscure and many may be defunct, I have credited all where possible. I am not monetizing this in any way, but rather utilizing it to educate and commentate on a historic event under an artistic lens. It falls under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
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Really well narrated.
crimson type on flat black? seriously? who do you think you are, Hunter Biden?
Wow several days of pyroclastic flows and everyone stayed?
I remember mount st helen's blew up in 1980 and it killed 57 people . I don't remember this in japan before
Why did the Jaffes stay. Of the two types of volcanoes they talked about, this particular type was the most dangerous. I think they made a distinction between a pink volcano and a black volcano. The pink volcano shot up lava. The black volcano shoots up soot, hot steam, etc.
So sad for the Japanese people , so many natural disasters ❤
Pinatubo and Unzen were like sisters
I remembered the sunsets and sky in Australia were red for a few days
妒火中燒心火燎原。
I have no recollection of this event whatsoever. In 1991 I had been living on Guam 🇬🇺 and ridiculously close to the eruption. The time difference between the two (EST USA) was something like 14 hours on the opposite ends of the day. Watching the evening news was something you had to set an alarm for.
19:25 A UFO.
突然の、自然の暴発、目に見えない菌やウイルス達の動物、生き物への侵略、どうしようもありません。人間も、無力
覚えています。救助に向かった自衛隊のヘリコプターが火山灰を吸い込んで飛べなくなった。タバコの葉畑に不時着してしまい、危険な状態で避難する途中、道から犬が数匹こちらに向かって来ました。隊員が犬に「お前らも来い！ついてこい！急げ逃げるぞ!」と一緒に走って避難しました。その後のことはわかりませんが、命あるものを全て助けたいと思う隊員のやさしさに涙しました。あらためてこの映像を見て胸に詰まるものがありました。このことを忘れず、教訓とすることが失われた命に対して、供養となることと思います。
自然さんよマスゴミ勢だけ５６してくれよ！！！
避難してれば助かったのに無駄死にw
雲仙普賢岳のある長崎出身で、父は元警察官です。1991/6/3の大火砕流で警察官が2名、消防団員12名が殉職しました。彼らは、避難勧告が出ていた場所で取材をした人たちの巻き添えで亡くなりました。取材していた彼らがそこにいなければ、死なずに済んだ人たちです。もしかしたら、殉職していたのは、私の父だったかもしれなかったのです。単なる自然災害ではありません。
I am from Nagasaki Prefecture where Unzen Fugendake is located, and my father is a former police officer. 2 police officers and 12 firemen were killed in the great pyroclastic flow on 6/3/1991. They died as collateral damage to those who were covering the area where the evacuation advisory had been issued. If they had not been there, they would not have died. It could have been my father who would have been killed in the line of duty. This was not just a natural disaster.
し、死体がうつってるぞ
lava dome complex, they were suppose to come to the philippines for mt Pinatubo after unzen
They died doing what they loved, but they miscalculaded the pure energy of this dangerous atensid/dazit vulcano, he was the most dangerous place to be in 1991, the dome growed and reached the slobes of the vulcano…. as gravity kicks in the first phyroclastic flows run down the valleys, also producing big lahars, destroying some residenz near the vulcano, forcing an evacuation, but sientist and journalist going to an place just two miles from the vulcano. On june 3 1991 after 14 pm an phyroclastic flow much bigger than all other, forced by an huge explosion from Unzen streams to this valley, killing 43 people trapped by the flow, also running into the savezone out of the vulcanos hazard era… setting everything instantly on fire, burning hot enough to consum everything and everyone, the most haunting moment of the footage, is when the flow reaches the outskirts of the village, the firemen running and screaming in pure fear…still to this day the most intense thing i ever saw.
after seeing this video I'm so grateful for the progress of technological developments now, so using CCTV or drones is much safer than filming directly up close, and if it is damaged due to pyroclastic flows (Semeru Eruption 4 December 2022) it can still be replaced without having to take lives
Madre de Dios – this footages of this volcano eruption are frightening and very scary to watch how much power such a volcanic eruption can have! And the lives who had gone on this time are really shocking and sad! This video here has made me goosebumps on my entire body and I can imagine how it will be if one or more of these huge calderas in the world are going to erupt! Can you all together imagine that – huh? Lovely greetings from Sarah Sutter!
A hint of fate:
The Kraffts had have a discussion about leaving for Pinatubo. If they'd done so they probably would have saved their lives.
Harry Glicken, an american vulcanologist, who died that day with the Kraffts, survived 11 years earlier the day of Mount St. Helens.
That day he had originally the duty on site but had an appointment so his boss David A. Johnston took over the observation and died there.
The music for this is really eerie and haunting, especially at the beginning bit of the video after the message was played when the first sign's of trouble started to appear. Is there a particular name for that bit of music, and in fact for all of the music that is used in this video? Because it is a brilliant piece and perfect for the mood of this.
And also, the video itself is amazing, I know it's not really the best word choice but it really is just astounding to see this kind of event actually happen thanks to the help of video technology.
What always struck me about this volcano was that despite all the volcanic activity, the slopes were still lush and green……..despite the horror of pyroclastic flows racing down the slopes.
i had never heard of this volcano, its so hidden by jungle ( until the end when all trees and flora/fauna ae gone), thank you for posting, it is insane to be that close to a volcano during eruption… the saying goes, " you can fight mother nature but you cant beat mother nature "
I remember watching this on the news back in 1991, so sad that 30 people died that day including 3 world renound volcanologists.
Hard to believe that its now been 32 years since this disaster.