List of volcanic eruptions in the 21st century

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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.

Quick facts
Satellite images of the 15 January 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai
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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.

Large eruptions (VEI of 4 or higher, or plume height of at least 15 km)

More information VEI, Volcano ...
VEI Volcano Country Year Max plume height (km) Material volume (km3) Fatalities Notes
2-4? Mount Lewotobi[1] Indonesia 2024-ongoing 18 13 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.[2] The Centre of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation recommended that a 7 km (4.3 mi) radius around the volcano be evacuated.[3] Seven villages were affected by the eruption.[4] A larger eruption occurred on 7 November.[5] On 8 November, the volcano erupted several times, one bearing an ash plume with a height reaching 10 km (6.2 mi).[6] On 9 November, it erupted again, scrambling authorities to evacuate approximately 16,000 people from nearby villages.[7] The volcano erupted twice on 7 July 2025, the first one occurring at 11:00 local time, sending a column of volcanic materials to height up to 18 km (11 mi) which was the volcano's highest since the 7 November 2024 eruption, the second eruption occurred at 19:30 local time, spewing lava and sending clouds of ash up to 13 km (8 mi), at least 24 international flights and 4 domestic flights were cancelled as a result of the eruptions on 7 July 2025.[8]
4 Mount Ruang[9] Indonesia 2024 23[10] Thousands of homes were destroyed.[11] 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.[12][13] The eruption also prompted the shutdown of Sam Ratulangi International Airport in North Sulawesi.[14] All 843 residents of Ruang island were evacuated to Manado, while 12,000 residents of Tagulandang were relocated to Siau Island by ship.[15] 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.[16]
4? Sheveluch[17] Russia 2023 20 An eruption on 11 April 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).[18] Pyroclastic flows from the eruption traveled up to 19 km (12 mi) away from the volcano.[19]
3 Bezymianny[20] Russia 2022 15 An eruption on 28 May 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[21] Tonga 2022 58 6–10[22][23][24] 6 The explosive submarine eruption began on 20 December 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.[25] The explosion was hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima,[26] 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.[27]
4 Mount Semeru[28] 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[29] Japan 2021 16 Submarine volcano approximately 1,300 km south of Tokyo. In October, a large amount of trachytic composition pumice was seen to have been released in this eruption, and washed ashore on Okinawa and Amami Islands.[30][31][32]
4 La Soufrière[33] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2021 16 0.3 2021 eruption of La Soufrière
4 Taal[34] Philippines 2020 15 39 2020 Taal Volcano eruption A plinian eruption from the main crater]] spewed tephra to Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Pangasinan. 39 people were killed.[35]
4 Ulawun[36] Papua New Guinea 2019 19.2 On 26 June Ulawun erupted, sending an ash plume to at least 19,000 m (63,000 ft).[37] Other large eruptions occurred on 2 August, also sending ash to 19,000 m (63,000 ft).[38]
4 Raikoke[39] 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.[40]
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.[41][42]
4 Volcán Wolf[43] Ecuador 2015 15
4 Calbuco[44] Chile 2015 21 0.3–0.6[45] First eruption since 1972. At least 4,000 people evacuated. No casualties reported.[46]
4 Manam[47] Papua New Guinea 2014-ongoing 19.8
3 Sangeang Api[48] Indonesia 2014 15.2 Ash drifted SE, grounding flights between south-east Asia and Darwin, Australia.[49]
4 Kelud[50] Indonesia 2014 26 0.2–0.3[51] 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.[52]
4 Mount Sinabung[53] Indonesia 2013-2019 16.8 23 Mount Sinabung's eruptions caused many pyroclastic flows, one resulting in the loss of 16 lives.[54] An eruption on 22 May 2016, resulted in the loss of 7 lives.[55]
4 Nabro[56] Eritrea 2011 18 0.47[57] 31[58] 2011 Nabro eruption
5 Cordón Caulle[59] Chile 2011-2012 14 0.75–1.3[60] The 2011–2012 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption began on 4 June 2011, causing major flight disruptions across the southern hemisphere, including South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
4 Grímsvötn[61] Iceland 2011 20 0.7[62] 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn
4 Mount Merapi[63] Indonesia 2010 18.3 353 2010 eruptions of Mount Merapi
4 Eyjafjallajökull[64] Iceland 2010 9 0.25[65] A series of eruptions between March and June caused the worst flight disruption over Europe since the Second World War.[66] Over an eight-day period, an estimated 107,000 flights, representing 48% of total air traffic and 10 million passengers, were canceled.[67] According to the IATA, The total loss to the airline industry was around $1.7 billion.[68]
4 Sarychev Peak[69] Russia 2009 21 0.4[70]
3 Mount Redoubt[71] Alaska, United States 2009 20 2009 Mount Redoubt eruptive activity
4 Kasatochi[72] Alaska, United States 2008 13.7 0.15–0.28[73]
4 Chaitén[74] Chile 2008 30 0.5–1[75] 1[76] 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 6 May, 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[77] Alaska, United States 2008 20 0.26[78]
4 Mount Tavurvur[79] Papua New Guinea 2006-2010 18
4 Manam[47] Papua New Guinea 2004 24
4 Volcán el Reventador[80] Ecuador 2002 17 0.37[81]
4 Mount Ruang[9] Indonesia 2002 16
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Smaller explosive eruptions resulting in fatalities or significant damage

More information VEI, Volcano ...
VEI Volcano Country Year Fatalities Notes
? Dukono Indonesia 2026 3 May 2026 eruption of Dukono
3 Kanlaon Philippines 2024 None 2024 Kanlaon eruption
2 Mount Marapi[82] Indonesia 2023 23[83] 2023 eruption of Mount Marapi
2 Popocatépetl[84] 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 22 June.[85]
2 Whakaari / White Island[86] 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[87] 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.[88]
3 Krakatoa[89] Indonesia 2018 426 A major eruption triggered a tsunami that killed at least 420 people and injured 14,000 others.[90][91] As a result of the landslide, the height of the volcano was reduced from 338 meters to 110 meters.[92]
3 Ambae[93] 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.[94]
3 Mayon Philippines 2018 The phreatic eruption with spewing of lava caused significant displacement, with over 90,000 people evacuated from their homes. The eruption also impacted schools and education, affecting 57 schools and 91,300 students within the 6-9 kilometer danger zones.[95] Damage to agriculture was also reported, with an estimated 185 million PHP (approx. $3.5 million USD).[96][97]
3 Mount Agung[98] 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[99] Indonesia 2017 8 On 2 July a rescue helicopter crashed, killing all 4 crewmen and 4 rescuers on board. 11 tourists near the crater were injured.[100]
2 Mount Etna[101] Italy 2017 An eruption on 16 March injured 10 people, including a BBC News television crew, after magma exploded upon contact with snow.[102][103]
3 Mount Ontake[104] 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[105] Indonesia 2011 4[106]
3 Pacaya[107] Guatemala 2010 3[108] On 27 May, 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.[109] 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.[110]
3 Jabal al-Tair[111] 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.[112]
1 Raoul Island[113] 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.[114]
3 Santa Ana[115] El Salvador 2005 2 Two farmers were killed when chunks of earth and boiling water flowed down the slopes of the volcano.[116]
2 Mount Bromo[117] Indonesia 2004 2 An eruption on 8 June killed two people who had been hit by rocks from the explosion.[118]
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Effusive eruptions

More information VEI, Volcano ...
VEI Volcano Country Year Fatalities Notes
1 Sundhnúkur[119] Iceland 2023-2025 2023–2025 Sundhnúkur eruptions
0 Mauna Loa[120] Hawaii, United States 2022 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa
3 Cumbre Vieja[121] 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[122] Democratic Republic of the Congo 2021 32 Effusive eruption resulting in the destruction of 1,000 homes.
3 Kilauea[123] 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[124] Cape Verde 2014-2015 2014–15 Fogo eruption
0 Holuhraun[125] Iceland 2014-2015 2014–2015 eruption of Bárðarbunga
1 Havre Seamount[126] Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 2012 2012 Kermadec Islands eruption
2 Tagoro[127] Canary Islands, Spain 2011-2012 2011–12 El Hierro eruption
1 Mount Nyiragongo[122] 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.
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