How frequent are earthquakes in or near Asia?

Asia has a very high level of seismic activity. Based on data from the past 25 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 120,000 quakes on average per year in or near Asia. Asia has had at least 3 quakes above magnitude 9 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 40 to 45 years.

How many earthquakes occur every year in or near Asia?

On average, Asia has about 25,000 quakes of magnitude 3 or higher per year (Mag 4+: 10,000 quakes per year, Mag 5+: 945 quakes per year, Mag 6+: 76 quakes per year).

Volcanoes in Asia

Updated: May 22, 2025 03:26 GMT - refresh

Note: the volcano-rich countries/regions of Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Kuril Islands and Kamchatka are not included here, but have their own pages.

Volcanoes of Asia (868)

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China (39 volcanoes)

India (1 volcano)

Barren Island

Iran (16 volcanoes)

Jordan (2 volcanoes)

Harrat Ash Shaam | Jabal al Qiranah

Laos (1 volcano)

Bolaven Plateau

Malaysia (8 volcanoes)

Mongolia (11 volcanoes)

Mongolia (5 volcanoes)

Bus-Obo | Dariganga Volcanic Field | Khanuy Gol | Middle Gobi | Taryatu-Chulutu

Myanmar (5 volcanoes)

Lower Chindwin | Medaw Island | Popa | Singu Plateau | Thaton

North Korea (4 volcanoes)

Ch'uga-ryong | Kilchu-Myongch'on | Koksan-Singye | Xianjindao

Pakistan (2 volcanoes)

Sultan | Tor Zawar

Russia (289 volcanoes)

South Korea (2 volcanoes)

Halla | Ulreung

Syria (13 volcanoes)

Taiwan (13 volcanoes)

Thailand (5 volcanoes)

Ban Chiang Khian | Ban Hui Sai | Buriram | Chanthaburi | Lampang

Vietnam (12 volcanoes)

Significant volcanic eruptions: Asia

In historic times, at least 59 volcanoes have been active in Asia, including Karymsky, Barren Island, and Klyuchevskoy volcanoes. A total of 528 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1002 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Asia since around 2020.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region
1999 Aug 15 - ongoing	Shiveluch	4?	Kamchatka
2022 Jun 11 - ongoing	Ebeko	2	Paramushir Island
2024 Jun 20 -	Karymsky	?	Kamchatka
2024 Aug 17 (eruption 1999 Aug 15 - ongoing)	Shiveluch	4	Kamchatka	Info
2024 Aug 17: An explosive eruption of the lava dome 300 years RAS of the Sheveluch volcano continues. Explosions sent ash up to 4.5-5 km a.s.l., and ash plume extended about 1520 km to the east-south-east from the volcano. Start time of explosion and how determined: 20240817/1145Z – Satellite data (reference #13823) According to media, as of 18 August, the strong earthquake triggered the eruption of the Shiveluch volcano causing an ash plume of 9,000m and an ashfall in the Ust-Kamchatsk village in the Ust-Kamchatsk district, in the eastern Kamchatka (Far Eastern Federal District). (reference #13819) The explosive eruption of the volcano probably ended, but extrusive eruptions from the two centers near the Karan lava dome (the lava domes 300 years of the RAS and a New) continues. Clouds obscured the volcano at now. Satellite data by KVERT shows a 1900 long ash cloud continues to drift to the east of the volcano, its front part at 19:20 UTS on 18 August was at a distance of more than 2400 km from the volcano. KVERT continues to monitor of the Sheveluch volcano. An extrusive eruption of Sheveluch volcano continues. (reference #13822) Cited references #13819 Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) (2024): ECHO Daily Flash, Russia - Earthquake and volcanic eruption. Published 19 August 2024. Link #13822 Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) (2024): VONA/KVERT Information Release, August 18, 2024. KVERT, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. (Issued at 2033Z). Link #13823 Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT) (2024): VONA/KVERT Information Release, August 17, 2024. KVERT, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. (Issued at 0553Z). Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2022 Mar 15 - 2024 Aug 14 ±2 d.	Bezymianny Summit crater	?	Kamchatka
2024 Mar 15 - May 29	Barren Island	?	Indian Ocean
2023 Jun 22 - Dec 31	Klyuchevskoy	3	Kamchatka
2022 Dec 30 - 2023 Aug 18	Barren Island	2	Indian Ocean
2023 Jan 28 - Feb 8	Chikurachki	2	Paramushir Island
2022 Sep 10 - Nov 26	Alaid	2	Atlasov Island, Northern Kuriles
2022 Nov 17 - Nov 25 ?	Klyuchevskoy	1	Kamchatka
2022 Jan 17 - Oct 17	Chikurachki	2	Paramushir Island
2022 Oct 7	Chirinkotan	2	Northern Kuriles, Russia
2020 Apr 1 - 2022 Aug 7	Karymsky	3	Kamchatka
2018 Sep 25 - 2022 Jan 30	Barren Island	1	Indian Ocean
2020 Feb 29 ±1 d. - 2021 Nov 26	Sarychev Peak	1	Matua Island
2016 Oct 20 - 2021 Nov 9	Ebeko Sredniy Crater (middle part) and Severny Crater (N part)	2	Paramushir Island
2021 Aug 8 - Aug 26	Chirinkotan	2	Northern Kuriles, Russia
2021 Mar 21 - Aug 25	Chikurachki	1	Paramushir Island
2019 Apr 9 - 2021 Mar 20	Klyuchevskoy	2	Kamchatka
2016 Dec 5 - 2021 Feb 1 ±15 d.	Bezymianny Summit crater	3	Kamchatka

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Asia FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Asia?

The last volcanic eruption in Asia was from Karymsky volcano in 2024.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Asia?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1002 AD from Halla volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Asia erupt?

Since 1002 AD, Asia has seen at least 528 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 1.9 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Asia?

Asia is volcanically extremely active: Since 1900, at least 45 volcanoes in Asia have been active. Almost every year, at least one volcano has erupted in Asia. The last volcano to erupt in Asia was Karymsky volcano, which erupted in 2024, 5 months ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Asia?

The largest eruption in Asia in historic times was from Bezymianny volcano. It occurred during 1955 - 1957. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest earthquakes: Asia

In the past 7 days, Asia was shaken by 2 quakes of magnitude 6.0 or above, 8 quakes between 5.0 and 6.0, 81 quakes between 4.0 and 5.0, 338 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 947 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 4,030 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel.

A magnitude 5.2 hit Kulu (Konya) .

Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Kulu (Konya) widely felt -

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
May 22, 03:19 am (Universal Time)	6.1 37 km		Aegean Sea, 80 km northeast of Irakleion, Heraklion Regional Unit, Crete, Greece I FELT IT	Info
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 21, 01:05 am (Port Moresby)	6.5 10 km	16 km (9.9 mi) S of Bam	88 km ENE of Angoram, Papua New Guinea I FELT IT - 3 reports	Info
Monday, May 19, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 20, 04:36 am (GMT +7)	5.3 10 km	359 km (223 mi) S of Wilis	South of Java, Indonesia I FELT IT - 2 reports	Info
Sunday, May 18, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 19, 01:45 am (Yangon)	5.1 10 km	291 km (181 mi) SW of Popa	Bay of Bengal, 38 km northwest of Manaung Island, Rakhine State, Myanmar I FELT IT - 1 report	Info
Saturday, May 17, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 17, 10:24 pm (Yangon)	5.1 10 km	98 km (61 mi) NE of Popa	24 km SSW of Kyaukse, Burma (Myanmar) I FELT IT - 42 reports	Info
Thursday, May 15, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 15, 03:46 pm (Istanbul)	5.2 18 km	125 km (78 mi) NW of Acigöl-Nevsehir	Kulu (Konya) I FELT IT - 61 reports	Info

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News

Wed, 10 Mar 2021, 20:22

SO2 cloud detected in the area of Kunlun volcano, Tibet - could it be from a volcanic eruption?

Detected SO2 cloud in the area of Kunlun volcano, NW Tibet (image: SACS)

Update: It appears that the SO2 plume is from one of the recent paroxysms at Etna volcano. There is no sign of unusual activity at Kunlun volcano. ... Read all

Sun, 11 Nov 2012, 10:27

Singu volcano and the Nov 11, 2012, magnitude 6.6 earthquake in Burma

Location of Singu Plateau volcano and the earthquakes on 11 Nov 2012

A shallow (about 10 km depth) magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit north of the Singu Plateau on 11 Nov. Two aftershocks of magnitude 5.0 occurred near the fissure vents 2 hours later. Read all