Most recent volcanic eruption with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 8

The Volcanic Explosivity Index is used to measure and describe the relative explosiveness of volcanoes. The VEI of an eruption ranges from 0 to 8 and is based on the amount of volcanic material erupted, duration and height of eruption. An eruption of VEI 8 indicates an eruption in which more than 1,000 cubic kilometres of volcanic material is ejected, resulting in ash plumes reaching over 50 km high. The last such eruption was the Oruanui eruption of the Taupo volcano in New Zealand, which occurred some 26,500 years ago. It ejected around 1,170 cubic kilometres of material and formed a massive caldera in which Lake Taupo, the largest lake in New Zealand, now sits.