World Map › Major Volcanic Eruptions
Historic Eruptions
Major Volcanic Eruptions
753 significant eruptions are listed here, based on the NOAA database. They caused deaths or damage, triggered a tsunami or an earthquake, or reached a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 4 or more. 443 date from 1900 or later, 67 are older than 1500. Together they killed at least 336,000 people. Each eruption has its own page, linked to its volcano.
Significant Eruptions by Century
Since the 16th century. 67 older eruptions are not shown on the chart. Recent eruptions are better documented, which partly explains the increase.
The Deadliest
- 1815Tambora, Indonesia · VEI 760,000 deaths
- 1883Krakatau, Indonesia · VEI 636,417 deaths
- 450Ilopango, El Salvador · VEI 630,000 deaths
- 1902Mount Pelée, Martinique · VEI 428,000 deaths
- 1985Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia · VEI 323,080 deaths
- 1169Mount Etna, Italy16,000 deaths
- 1792Unzendake, Japan · VEI 215,000 deaths
- 1586Kelud, Indonesia · VEI 510,000 deaths
- 1902Santa María, Guatemala · VEI 610,000 deaths
- 1784Grímsvötn, Iceland · VEI 49,350 deaths
- 1790Kīlauea, United States · VEI 45,405 deaths
- 1919Kelud, Indonesia · VEI 45,110 deaths
- 1640Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador · VEI 35,000 deaths
- 1822Galunggung, Indonesia · VEI 54,011 deaths
- 1631Vesuvius, Italy · VEI 54,000 deaths
- 1672Merapi, Indonesia · VEI 33,000 deaths
- 1711Mount Awu, Indonesia · VEI 33,000 deaths
- 1772Mount Papandayan, Indonesia · VEI 32,957 deaths
- 1951Mount Lamington, Papua New Guinea · VEI 42,942 deaths
- 1856Mount Awu, Indonesia · VEI 32,806 deaths
- 79Vesuvius, Italy · VEI 52,100 deaths
- 1760Kie Besi, Indonesia · VEI 42,000 deaths
- 1660Long Island, Papua New Guinea · VEI 62,000 deaths
- 1741Oshima Ōshima, Japan · VEI 42,000 deaths
- 1840Mount Ararat, Turkey · VEI 31,900 deaths
The Most Powerful (VEI 6 and Above)
- 1815Tambora, IndonesiaVEI 7
- 946Changbaishan, North KoreaVEI 7
- 1610 BCESantorini, GreeceVEI 7
- 4350 BCEKikai, JapanVEI 7
- 2022Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, TongaVEI 6
- 1991Pinatubo, PhilippinesVEI 6
- 1912Novarupta, United StatesVEI 6
- 1902Santa María, GuatemalaVEI 6
- 1883Krakatau, IndonesiaVEI 6
- 1660Long Island, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 1600Huaynaputina, PeruVEI 6
- 1580Billy Mitchell, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 1477Bardarbunga, IcelandVEI 6
- 1280Quilotoa, EcuadorVEI 6
- 930Ceboruco, MexicoVEI 6
- 847Mount Churchill, United StatesVEI 6
- 710Witori, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 683Rabaul (Tavurvur), Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 653Dakataua, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 450Ilopango, El SalvadorVEI 6
- 240Ksudach, RussiaVEI 6
- 233Taupō Volcano, New ZealandVEI 6
- 60Mount Churchill, United StatesVEI 6
- 50Ambrym, VanuatuVEI 6
- 50 BCEVolcán Apoyeque, NicaraguaVEI 6
- 100 BCEMount Okmok, United StatesVEI 6
- 250 BCERaoul Island, New ZealandVEI 6
- 1050 BCEPinatubo, PhilippinesVEI 6
- 1370 BCEWitori, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 1460 BCETaupō Volcano, New ZealandVEI 6
- 1645 BCEMount Aniakchak, United StatesVEI 6
- 1750 BCEMount Veniaminof, United StatesVEI 6
- 1860 BCESt. Helens, United StatesVEI 6
- 1890 BCECerro Hudson, ChileVEI 6
- 1900 BCEBlack Peak, United StatesVEI 6
- 2040 BCELong Island, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 3550 BCEPinatubo, PhilippinesVEI 6
- 3580 BCETaal, PhilippinesVEI 6
- 4000 BCEWitori, Papua New GuineaVEI 6
- 4050 BCEVolcán Masaya, NicaraguaVEI 6
- 4360 BCEMacauley, New ZealandVEI 6
The Most Recent
- 2026Dukono, Indonesia3 deaths
- 2025Klyuchevskoy, Russia
- 2025Lewotobi, Indonesia · VEI 21 death
- 2024Kanlaon Volcano, Philippines · VEI 2
- 2024Lewotobi, Indonesia · VEI 29 deaths
- 2024Sheveluch, Russia · VEI 4
- 2024Kanlaon Volcano, Philippines · VEI 3
- 2024Marapi, Indonesia · VEI 267 deaths
- 2024Mount Ruang, Indonesia
- 2024Ijen, Indonesia1 death
- 2023Marapi, Indonesia23 deaths
- 2023Reykjanes, Iceland1 death
- 2023Bagana, Papua New Guinea · VEI 2
- 2022Semeru, Indonesia · VEI 4
- 2022Popocatépetl, Mexico · VEI 21 death
- 2022Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, Tonga · VEI 66 deaths
- 2021Semeru, Indonesia · VEI 445 deaths
- 2021La Palma, Spain · VEI 31 death
- 2021Mount Nyiragongo, Congo, DRC · VEI 232 deaths
- 2021Soufriere St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines · VEI 4
- 2021Sangay volcano, Ecuador · VEI 2
- 2020Ijen, Indonesia1 death
- 2020Taal, Philippines · VEI 439 deaths
- 2019Whakaari / White Island, New Zealand · VEI 222 deaths
- 2019Stromboli, Italy · VEI 21 death
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database (doi:10.7289/V5JW8BSH)