What caused the darkness and destruction in the 34th year?

Some skeptical readers dismissed the account in 3 Nephi 8-9 as a product of a modern writer’s imagination while some Latter-day Saint writers have insisted on unlikely geological scenarios far beyond what the text actually describes. The events recounted in Mormon’s record included, 1) a great storm, a strong a terrible tempest, terrible thunder, shaking of the earth, exceedingly sharp lightning, burning of cities, sinking of cities into the sea, earth being carried up on cities, sinking and burial of cities, changes upon the face of the land, whirlwinds, breaking up of highways and earth, breaking up of cities, destruction of inhabitants, breaking and scattering of rocks, three hour duration of initial events, three days of darkness, palpable nature of the darkness, inability to light fire, very dry wood, vapors of smoke, people crushed by falling objects.  Collectively, these phenomena are best attributed to a significant localized volcanic event associated with a large earthquake.