How can certain composite volcanoes (stratovolcanoes) become ...

[rayancarla1]

How can certain composite volcanoes (stratovolcanoes) become significantly life-threatening without
  actually erupting or by undergoing only a minor eruptive event local to its summit? What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What was the main cause of death in the Tambora, Indonesia, eruption of 1815? What will be an ideal response?

[qytan]

Answer to Question 1

Heating up the summit of a snow and ice-capped volcano can produce lahars that can be very deadly,
as illustrated by the case of Columbia's Nevado del Ruiz in 1985. A comparatively minor volcanic
event on the summit of that mountain melted snow and ice that produced lahars that killed thousands
of people. Mount Rainier in Washington State is considered to be a danger in this respect. Prehistoric
lahars covered areas to the north of it that are currently heavily populated

Answer to Question 2

Climate related famine may have killed as many as several hundred thousand people. Fine ash in the
upper atmosphere caused what was referred to as the year without summer. The effects of this were
experienced worldwide.