History Daily: “The Eruption of Krakatoa” (August 26, 2025)
Host: Lindsey Graham
Produced by: Airship | Noiser | Wondery

Episode Overview

This episode commemorates the calamitous eruption of Krakatoa on August 26, 1883, arguably one of the most violent natural disasters in modern history. Host Lindsey Graham vividly reconstructs the event, tracing the scientific, human, and environmental impact of the eruption through dramatized accounts of Dutch colonial geologist Rogier Furbeg, merchant sailors, and survivors, ultimately placing this catastrophe in the context of scientific progress and its legacy in volcanology.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setting: Prelude to Disaster

Timestamps: 00:00–04:04

• The episode opens with Dutch geologist Rogier Furbeg in Java, August 26, 1883. He observes a fragment of obsidian, marveling at its orderliness formed from volcanic chaos.
• Krakatoa, 25 miles offshore, has been spewing ash and smoke for three months, convincing Rogier that a major eruption is imminent.
• As Furbeg works, a massive explosion shakes his building and darkens the sky: Krakatoa’s main eruption has begun.

Notable Quote:

“It’s hard to believe something so orderly was formed in such a chaotic environment as an erupting volcano.”
— Lindsey Graham, channeling Rogier Furbeg (00:30)

2. Krakatoa’s Dormant Years and Rising Tension

Timestamps: 04:04–10:29

• Flashback to 1880: Rogier Furbeg is tasked by the Dutch colonial government with surveying Krakatoa, an island teeming with lush vegetation and mistakenly believed dormant.
• The Dutch presence in Southeast Asia contextualized: the exploitation of newly surveyed islands for their natural resources.
• Furbeg’s fascination is scientific—a pristine volcanic landscape, unspoiled and “untouched by human habitation”.
• Three years later, in May 1883, Krakatoa starts emitting ominous smoke. Rogier, nearly 500 miles away, longs to witness the activity firsthand but is thwarted by safety concerns.
• On August 11, 1883, Captain Furzenaar becomes the last man to set foot on Krakatoa before the explosion, discovering 14 active vents and warning of the island’s instability.

Notable Quote:

“Krakatoa clearly teems with life... but none of that interests Rogier. He’s been looking forward to surveying Krakatoa because of its volcano.”
— Lindsey Graham (05:09)

3. The Cataclysm: Eyewitness Accounts

Timestamps: 10:29–15:04

• August 26, 1883: Captain W.J. Watson, a merchant sailor, is caught mid-eruption in the Sunda Strait.
  • Volcanic projectiles (rocks, ash) pelt his ship as if “under artillery fire.”
  • The eruption darkens the sky, creates thunderous noise, then a “deafening roar” triggers a tsunami, which lifts his ship and batters it with waves and further debris.
  • Watson’s ship survives, and he reports the horror to local authorities.
• Other sailors corroborate with chilling details: “gigantic tsunamis and an enormous explosion that made their ears bleed.”
• The aftermath: Rescuers find coastal towns, especially Anur in Sumatra, reduced to ruins—death toll in Anur alone estimated at 30,000.
• After the dust settles, it’s revealed that most of Krakatoa has been obliterated; only a vestige remains above water.

Notable Quotes:

“A hot and jagged rock crashes onto the deck... but there is no enemy. The projectiles are coming from the sky, blasted out from nearby Krakatoa.”
— Lindsey Graham, recounting Captain Watson’s experience (10:40)

“Sailors tell of gigantic tsunamis and an enormous explosion that made their ears bleed.”
— Lindsey Graham (14:24)

4. Scientific Aftermath and Legacy

Timestamps: 16:31–19:52

• October 11, 1883: Rogier Furbeg sets foot on Krakatoa’s remains, encountering intense heat and devastation.
  • He observes the first signs of recovery—tiny sprouts of green in the ash, symbolizing the island’s rebirth.
• In 1885, Furbeg publishes an exhaustive 550-page study, a foundational work in the emerging field of volcanology.
• Krakatoa’s legacy: The site births a new volcano, Anak Krakatoa (“Child of Krakatoa”), which continues both geological activity and deadly eruptions—claiming 437 lives in 2018.
• The historic explosion’s impact: “Heard by 10% of the Earth’s population... up to 120,000 people died.”
• The episode’s conclusion points to the evolving scientific understanding and human stories forged from disaster.

Notable Quotes:

“Its mountain peak is gone, and most of the rest of the island has collapsed into the sea... but amid the scorched earth and twisted rock, he spots a flicker of green.”
— Lindsey Graham, narrating Furbeg’s post-eruption inspection (16:40)

“Spanning more than 550 pages, it is one of the most thorough scientific investigations of its time. And in the decades that follow, many experts will look back on Rogier's work as the beginning of a new science: volcanology.”
— Lindsey Graham (17:41)

“It was one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history... up to 120,000 people died in the eruption of Krakatoa, the final phase of which began on August 26, 1883.”
— Lindsey Graham (18:50)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

| Time | Speaker | Notable Moment / Quote | |-----------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:30 | Lindsey Graham | “It’s hard to believe something so orderly was formed in such a chaotic environment as an erupting volcano.” | | 05:09 | Lindsey Graham | “Krakatoa clearly teems with life... but none of that interests Rogier. He’s been looking forward to surveying Krakatoa because of its volcano.” | | 10:40 | Lindsey Graham | “A hot and jagged rock crashes onto the deck... there is no enemy. The projectiles are coming from the sky, blasted out from nearby Krakatoa.” | | 14:24 | Lindsey Graham | “Sailors tell of gigantic tsunamis and an enormous explosion that made their ears bleed.” | | 16:40 | Lindsey Graham | “Its mountain peak is gone... but amid the scorched earth and twisted rock, he spots a flicker of green.” | | 17:41 | Lindsey Graham | “Many experts will look back on Rogier's work as the beginning of a new science: volcanology.” | | 18:50 | Lindsey Graham | “It was one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history... up to 120,000 people died in the eruption of Krakatoa...” |

Episode Flow & Tone

The narrative is immersive and urgent, balancing scientific curiosity with human peril. Historical dramatization brings immediacy to the retelling, while striking factual details and clear, evocative prose illuminate the scope of the tragedy and subsequent advancements. The tone is both respectful and awed—a somber acknowledgment of nature’s fury and scientific discovery.

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–04:04: Introduction — Furbeg’s observations, the initial eruption
• 04:04–10:29: 1880s background — Dutch colonialism, Krakatoa survey, early warning signs
• 10:29–15:04: August 26, 1883 — Nautical eyewitnesses, eruption and tsunami, destruction revealed
• 16:31–19:52: Scientific aftermath, rebirth, the birth of volcanology, enduring legacy

Summary Takeaway:
This History Daily episode encapsulates the drama and significance of Krakatoa’s 1883 eruption: a convergence of natural disaster, scientific curiosity, colonial history, and environmental rebirth. Through the eyes of eyewitnesses and scientists, listeners appreciate both the human cost and the enduring impact on science and society.