The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa in the Dutch East Indies began on 20 May 1883 and culminated with several destructive eruptions of the Krakatoa caldera on 26 August 1883. On 27 August, the volcano collapsed in a chain of titanic explosions, destroying much of the island and its surrounding archipelago. Additional alleged seismic activity continued to be reported until February 1884, though reports of those after October 1883 were later dismissed by Rogier Verbeek's investigation. It was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history, with at least 36,417 deaths being attributed to the eruption itself and the tsunamis it created. Significant additional effects were also felt around the world.