Date: June 15, 1991
Photographer: Alberto Garcia, a Filipino photographer for Saba Press
Details: On March 15, 1991, a series of small earthquakes began shaking the area surrounding Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. At that time, the mountain stood over 1,700 meters tall. These tremors caused cracks within the mountain and led to steam eruptions, puzzling geologists due to the mountain’s atypical features. Unlike other active volcanoes, Mount Pinatubo lacked the classic conical shape and had been dormant for centuries.
Over the course of April and May, as these steam eruptions continued, local authorities initiated precautionary measures, gradually evacuating the area. By June, the volcanic activity intensified. The first major eruption occurred on June 12, sending a plume of smoke and ash 20 kilometers into the sky and reducing the mountain’s height by 300 meters. The situation escalated, prompting the evacuation of approximately 60,000 people.
On June 15, the eruption reached its peak, coinciding with the arrival of a typhoon. During this time, a group of photojournalists, including Alberto Garcia, were on the scene documenting the event. As the situation became increasingly perilous, they decided to pack up and leave. While fleeing the area, a massive explosion occurred, which Garcia captured from within his car, with another vehicle seen fleeing in the background.
After the image of Mount Pinatubo’s eruption spread across various media outlets, Alberto Garcia recounted the experience. He stated that he was about 20 to 30 kilometers from the volcano when it erupted. Tons of hot ash began to chase them, making it nearly impossible to stay in the area. As they sped away, Garcia’s heart pounded with fear, and he struggled to put on a gas mask. Amidst the chaos, he noticed a blue car attempting to escape, framed by a backdrop of billowing smoke. Despite the terror of the moment, he saw the opportunity for a powerful image and captured it while silently praying. Fortunately, the people in the car managed to escape to safety.
Garcia later returned to the capital, where he contacted a friend to help process the photos. He sent the images to Time magazine in the United States, and within a week, they were published and widely circulated by other media outlets.
The striking image of Mount Pinatubo’s eruption won first place in the International Press Photo contest in 1992, making Garcia the only Filipino to have received this prestigious award. He was also honored at various other journalism events for his remarkable work.
