Laki, a volcanic fissure in Iceland, erupted violently between June 1783 and February 1784, spewing out massive amounts of basalt lava and toxic gases. This catastrophic event led to the death of over half of Iceland's livestock, widespread crop destruction, and a devastating famine that claimed the lives of at least a fifth of the island's population. The eruption also caused a drop in global temperatures, resulting in crop failures in Europe and potential droughts in other regions like North Africa and India.