This is a list of volcanic eruptions in the 21st century with a volcanic explosivity index (VEI) of 4 or higher, and smaller eruptions that resulted in fatalities, significant damage or disruptions.
As of 9 December 2024, the largest volcanic eruption of the 21st century is the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami, and the deadliest are the 2018 Volcán de Fuego eruption and the 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami.
VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Max plume height (km) | Material volume (km3) | Fatalities | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4? | Mount Ruang [1] | Indonesia | 2024 | 23 [2] | Thousands of homes were destroyed. [3] Volcanic ash was reported as far away as Manado and several areas in Gorontalo. Airlines from West Malaysia and Singapore cancelled flights to Sabah and Sarawak on 18 April due to reduced visibility. [4] [5] The eruption also prompted the shutdown of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in North Sulawesi. [6] All 843 residents of Ruang island were evacuated to Manado, while 12,000 residents of Tagulandang were relocated to Siau Island by ship. [7] On 17 and 30 April, authorities raised the volcano's alert level to four, the highest in Indonesia and issued a tsunami alert which led to orders for 11,000 residents and evacuees in Tagulandang to be moved to Manado in mainland Sulawesi, citing the risk of the volcano collapsing into the sea. [8] | ||
4? | Sheveluch [9] | Russia | 2023 | 20 | An eruption on April 11 ejected a cloud of volcanic gas and ash that reached a height of 20 km (12 mi) and spread over an area of 108,000 km2 (42,000 sq mi). [10] Pyroclastic flows from the eruption traveled up to 19 km (12 mi) away from the volcano. [11] | ||
3 | Bezymianny [12] | Russia | 2022 | 15 | An eruption on May 28 sent ash to an altitude of 15 km, causing some disruptions to flights in the North Pacific, including an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Tokyo that diverted back to Los Angeles midway across the Pacific, landing after approximately 12 hours in the air.[ citation needed ] | ||
5-6 | Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai [13] | Tonga | 2022 | 58 | 6–10 [14] [15] [16] | 6 | The explosive submarine eruption began on December 20, 2021, with the largest explosion occurring on January 15, 2022. Satellite measurements recorded an eruption column of at least 30,000 m (98,000 ft) into the atmosphere. [17] The explosion was hundreds times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, [18] and was heard as far as Fairbanks, Alaska, nearly 10,000 km away. Fluctuations in air pressure were recorded all over the world as the pressure wave fully circled the world several times. Two people were killed in Peru by a 2-metre tsunami wave. A British woman was found to have been killed by the tsunami in Tonga. [19] |
4 | Mount Semeru [20] | Indonesia | 2021 | 12 | 57 | An eruption began on December 4, and ejected a cloud of volcanic ash 12,000 m (40,000 ft) into the air, killing at least 57 people and injuring more than 100 others. | |
4 | Fukutoku-Okanoba [21] | Japan | 2021 | 16 | Submarine volcano approximately 1,300 km south of Tokyo. In October, a large amount of pumice was seen to have been released in this eruption, and washed ashore on Okinawa and Amami Islands. [22] [23] [24] | ||
4 | La Soufrière [25] | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2021 | 16 | 0.3 | 2021 eruption of La Soufrière | |
4 | Taal [26] | Philippines | 2020 | 15 | 39 | A phreatomagmatic eruption from the main crater spewed ashes to Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Pangasinan. 39 people were killed. [27] | |
4 | Ulawun [28] | Papua New Guinea | 2019 | 19.2 | On 26 June Ulawun erupted, sending an ash plume to at least 19,000 m (63,000 ft). [29] Other large eruptions occurred on 2 August, also sending ash to 19,000 m (63,000 ft). [30] | ||
4 | Raikoke [31] | Russia | 2019 | 17 | First eruption since 1924. At approximately 4 am, 22 June it erupted, with a plume of ash and gas reaching between 13,000 m (43,000 ft) and 17,000 m (56,000 ft), passing the tropopause and allowing stratospheric injection of ash and sulfur dioxide. [32] | ||
3 | Volcán de Fuego | Guatemala | 2018 | 15 | 190–2,900 | At least 190 people were killed in the volcano's most powerful eruption since 1974. Ash forced the closure of La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. [33] [34] | |
4 | Volcán Wolf [35] | Ecuador | 2015 | 15 | |||
4 | Calbuco [36] | Chile | 2015 | 21 | 0.3–0.6 [37] | First eruption since 1972. At least 4,000 people evacuated. No casualties reported. [38] | |
4 | Manam [39] | Papua New Guinea | 2014-ongoing | 19.8 | |||
3 | Sangeang Api [40] | Indonesia | 2014 | 15.2 | Ash drifted SE, grounding flights between south-east Asia and Darwin, Australia. [41] | ||
4 | Kelud [42] | Indonesia | 2014 | 26 | 0.2–0.3 [43] | 7 | Ash was ejected to an altitude exceeding 26 km. 7 people were killed and at least 100,000 people were evacuated. At least one commercial aircraft flew into the plume, later landing safely but incurring costly engine damage. [44] |
4 | Mount Sinabung [45] | Indonesia | 2013-2019 | 16.8 | 23 | Mount Sinabung's eruptions caused many pyroclastic flows, one resulting in the loss of 16 lives. [46] An eruption on May 22, 2016, resulted in the loss of 7 lives. [47] | |
4 | Nabro [48] | Eritrea | 2011 | 18 | 0.47 [49] | 31 [50] | 2011 Nabro eruption |
5 | Cordón Caulle [51] | Chile | 2011-2012 | 14 | 0.75–1.3 [52] | The 2011–2012 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption began on June 4, 2011, causing major flight disruptions across the southern hemisphere, including South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. | |
4 | Grímsvötn [53] | Iceland | 2011 | 20 | 0.7 [54] | 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn | |
4 | Mount Merapi [55] | Indonesia | 2010 | 18.3 | 353 | 2010 eruptions of Mount Merapi | |
4 | Eyjafjallajökull [56] | Iceland | 2010 | 9 | 0.25 [57] | A series of eruptions between March and June caused the worst flight disruption over Europe since the Second World War. [58] Over an eight-day period, an estimated 107,000 flights, representing 48% of total air traffic and 10 million passengers, were canceled. [59] According to the IATA, The total loss to the airline industry was around $1.7 billion. [60] | |
4 | Sarychev Peak [61] | Russia | 2009 | 21 | 0.4 [62] | ||
3 | Mount Redoubt [63] | Alaska, United States | 2009 | 20 | 2009 Mount Redoubt eruptive activity | ||
4 | Kasatochi [64] | Alaska, United States | 2008 | 13.7 | 0.15–0.28 [65] | ||
4 | Chaitén [66] | Chile | 2008 | 30 | 0.5–1 [67] | 1 [68] | The town of Chaitén, located about 10 km southwest of the eruption site, was blanketed with ash. About 4,000 people who lived there were evacuated by boat. One elderly person died during the evacuation efforts. On May 6, the eruption became more forceful and generated a wider and darker gray ash plume to an estimated altitude of 30,000 m (98,400 ft) into the stratosphere. All remaining people in Chaitén were ordered to evacuate, as well as anyone within 50 km of the volcano. |
4 | Mount Okmok [69] | Alaska, United States | 2008 | 20 | 0.26 [70] | ||
4 | Mount Tavurvur [71] | Papua New Guinea | 2006-2010 | 18 | |||
4 | Manam [39] | Papua New Guinea | 2004 | 24 | |||
4 | Volcán el Reventador [72] | Ecuador | 2002 | 17 | 0.37 [73] | ||
4 | Mount Ruang [1] | Indonesia | 2002 | 16 |
VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Kanlaon | Philippines | 2024 | None | 2024 Kanlaon eruption |
? | Lewotobi | Indonesia | 2024 | 9 | On 4 November 2024, the volcano spewed molten debris at several villages some 4 km (2.5 mi) away, destroying homes and killing at least nine. [74] The Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation recommended that a 7 km (4.3 mi) radius around the volcano be evacuated. [75] Seven villages were affected by the eruption. [76] A larger eruption occurred on 7 November. [77] On 8 November, the volcano erupted several times, one bearing an ash plume with a height reaching 10 km (6.2 mi). [78] On 9 November, it erupted again, scrambling authorities to evacuate approximately 16,000 people from nearby villages. [79] |
2 | Mount Marapi [80] | Indonesia | 2023 | 23 [81] | 2023 eruption of Mount Marapi |
2 | Popocatépetl [82] | Mexico | 2022 | 1 | One woman was killed and 2 other climbers were injured after being hit by hot volcanic rock during an ascent to the crater on June 22. [83] |
2 | Whakaari / White Island [84] | New Zealand | 2019 | 22 | On 9 December a phreatic eruption launched rock and ash into the air, killing 22 of the 47 people on the island, including two who are missing and declared dead. A further twenty-five people suffered injuries, including severe burns. |
2 | Mount Stromboli [85] | Italy | 2019 | 1 | A hiker was killed and several others were injured after the volcano's strongest eruption since 2002. The Italian Navy was deployed and evacuated dozens of the island's residents. [86] |
3 | Krakatoa [87] | Indonesia | 2018 | 426 | A major eruption triggered a tsunami that killed at least 420 people and injured 14,000 others. [88] [89] As a result of the landslide, the height of the volcano was reduced from 338 meters to 110 meters. [90] |
3 | Ambae [91] | Vanuatu | 2018 | During a series of eruptions, volcanic ash blackened the sky, buried crops and destroyed homes. Over the course of the year, the island's 11,000 population was forced to evacuate several times. [92] | |
3 | Mount Agung [93] | Indonesia | 2017-2019 | Eruptions from 2017 - 2019 caused thousands to be evacuated, disrupted flights and a decline in tourism to Bali. | |
1 | Dieng Volcanic Complex [94] | Indonesia | 2017 | 8 | On July 2 a rescue helicopter crashed, killing all 4 crewmen and 4 rescuers on board. 11 tourists near the crater were injured. [95] |
2 | Mount Etna [96] | Italy | 2017 | An eruption on 16 March injured 10 people, including a BBC News television crew, after magma exploded upon contact with snow. [97] [98] | |
3 | Mount Ontake [99] | Japan | 2014 | 63 | A phreatic eruption and pyroclastic flow occurred without warning, killing 63 people. Deadliest eruption in Japan since 1902, first volcano-related deaths in Japan since 1991. |
2 | Gamalama [100] | Indonesia | 2011 | 4 [101] | |
3 | Pacaya [102] | Guatemala | 2010 | 3 [103] | On May 27, at approximately 20:00 hours there was a strong eruption ejecting debris and ash columns up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) followed by several tremors. Ash rained down in many cities to the northwest of the volcano, including Guatemala City. [104] The volcanic ash fall pelted the capital and La Aurora International Airport. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) declared a red alert for the communities near the volcano and recommended the evacuation of some of them. Noti7 reporter Anibal Archila, one of the first to cover the event, was reportedly killed by volcanic debris. [105] |
3 | Jabal al-Tair [106] | Yemen | 2007 | 7 | An eruption on the Red Sea island killed at least 7 soldiers and spewed lava and ash hundreds of metres into the air. [107] |
1 | Raoul Island [108] | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 2006 | 1 | An eruption on 17 March killed conservation worker Mark Kearney, who was measuring the water temperature of Green Lake. [109] |
3 | Santa Ana [110] | El Salvador | 2005 | 2 | Two farmers were killed when chunks of earth and boiling water flowed down the slopes of the volcano. [111] |
2 | Mount Bromo [112] | Indonesia | 2004 | 2 | An eruption on June 8 killed two people who had been hit by rocks from the explosion. [113] |
VEI | Volcano | Country | Year | Fatalities | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | Sundhnúkur [114] | Iceland | 2023-2024 | 2023–2024 Sundhnúkur eruptions | |
0 | Mauna Loa [115] | Hawaii, United States | 2022 | 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa | |
3 | Cumbre Vieja [116] | Canary Islands, Spain | 2021 | 1 | Strombolian fissure eruption resulting in one person dead, over one billion dollars in damage and the destruction of over 2,500 buildings. |
1 | Mount Nyiragongo [117] | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2021 | 32 | Effusive eruption resulting in the destruction of 1,000 homes. |
3 | Kilauea [118] | Hawaii, United States | 2018 | Most destructive volcanic event in the United States since the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Lava flows forced the evacuation of populated areas, destroyed over 700 homes, roads and utilities, causing at least $800 million (2018 USD) of property damage. | |
3 | Pico do Fogo [119] | Cape Verde | 2014-2015 | 2014–15 Fogo eruption | |
0 | Holuhraun [120] | Iceland | 2014-2015 | 2014–2015 eruption of Bárðarbunga | |
1 | Havre Seamount [121] | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand | 2012 | 2012 Kermadec Islands eruption | |
2 | Tagoro [122] | Canary Islands, Spain | 2011-2012 | 2011–12 El Hierro eruption | |
1 | Mount Nyiragongo [117] | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2002 | 245 | Large effusive eruption. At least 15% of Goma comprising 4,500 buildings was destroyed, leaving about 120,000 people homeless. |
Plinian eruptions or Vesuvian eruptions are volcanic eruptions marked by their similarity to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, which destroyed the ancient Roman cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The eruption was described in a letter written by Pliny the Younger, after the death of his uncle Pliny the Elder.
Mount Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia on the island of Lombok. Administratively the mountain is in the Regency of North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. It rises to 3,726 metres (12,224 ft), making it the second highest volcano in Indonesia. It is also the highest point in the Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara. Adjacent to the volcano is a 6-by-8.5-kilometre caldera, which is filled partially by the crater lake known as Segara Anak or Anak Laut, due to the color of its water, as blue as the sea (laut). This lake is approximately 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and estimated to be about 200 metres (660 ft) deep; the caldera also contains hot springs. The lake and mountain are sacred to the Sasak people and Hindus, and are the site of religious rituals. UNESCO made Mount Rinjani Caldera a part of the Global Geoparks Network in April 2018. Mount Rinjani or Samalas are the largest volcanic eruption in the last 2000 years.
Paluweh, also known as Rokatenda, is a stratovolcano that forms the small island of Palu'e, north of Flores Island in Sikka Regency in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. While the volcano rises about 3,000 m (9,840 ft) above the sea floor, its cone rises just 875 metres (2,871 ft) above sea level and is the highest point on the island.
The Decade Volcanoes are 16 volcanoes identified by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI) as being worthy of particular study in light of their history of large, destructive eruptions and proximity to densely populated areas. The Decade Volcanoes project encourages studies and public-awareness activities at these volcanoes, with the aim of achieving a better understanding of the volcanoes and the dangers they present, and thus being able to reduce the severity of natural disasters.
Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island in Indonesia. On 29 December 1927, Anak Krakatau first emerged from the caldera formed in 1883 by the explosive volcanic eruption that destroyed the island of Krakatoa. There has been sporadic eruptive activity at the site since the late 20th century, culminating in a large underwater collapse of the volcano, which caused a deadly tsunami in December 2018. There has been subsequent activity since. Owing to its young age the island is one of several in the area that are of interest to, and the subject of extensive study by volcanologists.
Lava lakes are large volumes of molten lava, usually basaltic, contained in a volcanic vent, crater, or broad depression. The term is used to describe both lava lakes that are wholly or partly molten and those that are solidified.
Yate Volcano is a large, glaciated stratovolcano located in the southern Andes, in the Los Lagos Region of Chile, south of the Reloncaví Estuary. Yate lies on the major regional Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone, and is located 10 km north-east of the smaller Hornopiren volcano. The last known eruption occurred in 1090 CE. There are no historical records of recent volcanic activity, but there is strategic evidence of smaller eruptions sometime in the Holocene. The volcano is named after Juan Yates, also known as John Yates, a settler of Puerto Americano who played a significant role in the exploration and colonisation of Patagonia.
Mount Sinabung is a Pleistocene-to-Holocene stratovolcano of andesite and dacite in the Karo plateau of Karo Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia, 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the Lake Toba supervolcano. Many old lava flows are on its flanks and the last known eruption, before recent times, occurred 1200 years before present, between 740 - 880 CE. Solfataric activities were last observed at the summit in 1912; recent documented events include an eruption in the early hours of 29 August 2010 and eruptions in September and November 2013, January, February and October 2014. The volcano has recently claimed the life of at least 23 people in a number of events since 2014. Between 2013 and 2014, the alert for a major event was increased with no significant activity. On 2 June 2015, the alert was again increased, and on 26 June 2015, at least 10,000 people were evacuated, fearing a major eruption. The long eruption of Mount Sinabung is similar to that of Mount Unzen in Japan, which erupted for five years after lying dormant for 400 years. A major eruption began on 10 August 2020.
Ruang is the southernmost stratovolcano in the Sangihe Islands arc, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. It comprises an island 4 by 5 kilometres wide. The summit contains a partial lava dome and reaches some 725 metres (2,379 ft) in altitude. From its summit, Klabat's peak in the south, that of Siau to the north, and Ternate to the east can all be seen.
Mount Gamkonora is a stratovolcano on Halmahera island, Indonesia. With an elevation of 1,560 metres (5,118 ft), it is the highest peak on the island. It has produced an elongated series of craters along the north–south rift.
Several types of volcanic eruptions—during which material is expelled from a volcanic vent or fissure—have been distinguished by volcanologists. These are often named after famous volcanoes where that type of behavior has been observed. Some volcanoes may exhibit only one characteristic type of eruption during a period of activity, while others may display an entire sequence of types all in one eruptive series.
Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai is a submarine volcano in the South Pacific located about 30 km (19 mi) south of the submarine volcano of Fonuafoʻou and 65 km (40 mi) north of Tongatapu, Tonga's main island. It is part of the highly active Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone and its associated volcanic arc, which extends from New Zealand north-northeast to Fiji, and is formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate under the Indo-Australian Plate. It lies about 100 km (62 mi) above an active seismic zone.
The 2009 Tonga undersea volcanic eruption began on 16 March 2009, near the island of Hunga Tonga, approximately 62 kilometres (39 mi) from the Tongan capital of Nukuʻalofa. The volcano is in a highly active volcanic region that represents a portion of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It is estimated that there are up to 36 undersea volcanoes clustered together in the area.
In December 2021, an eruption began on Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, a submarine volcano in the Tongan archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean. The eruption reached a very large and powerful climax nearly four weeks later, on 15 January 2022. Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai is 65 kilometres (40 mi) north of Tongatapu, the country's main island, and is part of the highly active Tonga–Kermadec Islands volcanic arc, a subduction zone extending from New Zealand to Fiji. On the Volcanic Explosivity Index scale, the eruption was rated at least a VEI-5. Described by scientists as a "magma hammer", the volcano at its height produced a series of four underwater thrusts, displaced 10 cubic kilometres (2.4 cu mi) of rock, ash and sediment, and generated the largest atmospheric explosion recorded by modern instrumentation.
The 1871 Ruang eruption began on March 3, and ended on March 14 at the Ruang volcano in the Molucca Sea, Indonesia. The eruption triggered a locally devastating tsunami measuring 25 m (82 ft). It flooded many villages on nearby islands, killing some 400 people.
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