ClimateAugust 28, 2026

lahar

LAH-har

Definition

A violent, destructive type of mudflow or debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris, and water that flows down from a volcano, typically along a river valley.

Etymology

The word is a loanword from the Javanese language, where it is used to describe volcanic mudflows. It was adopted into international geological terminology to characterize these specific, rapid-moving disasters.

In the news

Cardinal David uses the term to describe the destructive force of the Himalayan flood, comparing it to the volcanic mudflows that devastated Pampanga following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

Cardinal links Nepal tragedy to climate risks

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SunStar Publishing Inc.

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