On 9 June 1991, Mount Pinatubo, a volcano in the Zambales Range, 80km (50 miles) north of Manila, capital of the Philippines, hit the headlines. It became one of the three largest eruptions in the world in the 20th Century. From the 9 June there were many eruptions (timeline of events). However, none matched that of 12 June. Ash turned day into night. The eruption caused the deaths of over 700 people. 200 000 buildings were destroyed.