Volcanoes, Eruptions and Earthquakes in Caribbean

Volcanoes of the Caribbean Islands

Dominican Republic (3 volcanoes)

Dos Hermanos | San Juan | Valle Nuevo

Haiti (2 volcanoes)

Morne la Vigie | Thomazeau

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Caribbean

In historic times, at least 8 volcanoes have been active in Caribbean, including Soufrière St. Vincent, Kick 'em Jenny, and Soufriere Hills volcanoes. A total of 40 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1635 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Caribbean since 1900.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
2020 Dec 27 - 2021 Apr 22	Soufrière St. Vincent	4	West Indies, St. Vincent
2021 Apr 9 (eruption 2020 Dec 27 - 2021 Apr 22)	Soufrière St. Vincent	4	West Indies, St. Vincent		very heavy	Info
2021 Apr 9: The eruptions of the La Soufriere volcano which began on 9 April are expected to displace close to 20,000 persons with over 12,700 evacuees now registered in public shelters and in private homes. Entire villages have been covered in ashes, buildings damaged , schools and businesses closed, crops and livestock destroyed, and residents left with limited access to clean drinking water. Further eruptions are expected in the coming weeks. (reference #12921) The agriculture sector team comprising SVG Ministry of Agriculture, CARDI, FAO and IICA estimated damage in red and orange zones equate to an economic loss of USD 109 M in crops and livestock, 5.1 M in fisheries, 19 M in forestry and wildlife and 20 M in farm building and infrastructure. (reference #12925) A new dome broke through the crater floor on 27 December 2020, on the south-west perimeter of the existing dome. The 9th of April 2021, the activity moved to explosive activity, and since that time several volcanic plumes have occurred as well as pyroclastic flows. The 19th of April, SRC reported that pyroclastic flows produced by the eruption of Soufrière St Vincent have descended the western flank of the volcano and have reached the Caribbean sea and they informed the TSP. Our TSP has observed a 10-cm high tsunami on a tide gauge located to the south of St Vincent. SRC indicates that the eruptive phase can continue over the next days or weeks. (reference #13660) Cited references #1250 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) (2001): EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, link #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #12921 United Nations Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (2021): United Nations launches $29 million appeal for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other affected countries as volcano eruption continues. Published 20 April 2021. Link #12925 Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) (2021): CDEMA Situation Report #20 - Explosive Eruption At La Soufriere Volcano, St. Vincent. Published 21 April, 2021. #13660 UNESCO/IOC (2021): Report of the Task Team on Tsunami Procedures for Volcanic Crises, XV Session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions 27-29 April 2021 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2017 Apr 29	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
2015 Jul 23 - Jul 24	Kick 'em Jenny Submarine	0	West Indies, Grenada
2005 Apr 15 - 2013 Feb 5	Soufriere Hills	3?	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)
2006 May 20 (eruption 2005 Apr 15 - 2013 Feb 5)	Soufriere Hills	2	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)			Info
2006 May 20: A major lava dome collapse took place at the Soufriere Hills Volcano on the morning of 20 May 2006. The volume of the lava dome was believed to be about 90 million cubic meters and collapsed over a period of 3 hours. A 1 m high tsunami was reported from Deshaies beach in Guadeloupe and swells were detected in Little Bay, Montserrat, and at Jolly Harbour and English Harbour, Antigua. Cited references #2402 Montserrat Volcano Observatory (2006): Montserrat Volcano Observatory, Montserrat, West Indies. Interim report for the period midday 19 May to midday 22 May 2006. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency News Centre at http://www.cdera.org/cunews/ Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2004 Mar 3 - May 2	Soufriere Hills	3?	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)
1995 Jul 18 - 2003 Oct 8	Soufriere Hills	3	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)
2003 Jul 12 (eruption 1995 Jul 18 - 2003 Oct 8)	Soufriere Hills	3	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)			Info
2003 Jul 12: Volcanic eruption caused a tsunami. Cited references #1705 Pelinovsky, E, N. Zahibo, P. Dunkley, M. Edmonds, R. Herd, T.Talipova, A. Kozelkov, I. Nikokina (2004): Tsunami Generated by the Volcano Eruption on July 12-13, 2003 at Montserrat, Lesser Antiles. Science of Tsunami Hazards, Volume 22, Number 1, p. 44 -57. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2001 Dec 4 - Dec 6	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1999 Jan 20 (eruption 1995 Jul 18 - 2003 Oct 8)	Soufriere Hills	3	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)			Info
1999 Jan 20: Debris avalanches and pyroclastic flows associated with an eruption of Soufriere Hills Volcano travelled down the Tar River valley, reached the sea, and generated a local tsunami. Cited references #1918 Pararas-Carayannis, George (2006): Risk assessment of tsunami generation from active volcanic sources in the eastern Caribbean region. Caribbean Tsunami Hazard, Proceedings of the NSF Caribbean Tsunami Workshop, March 30-31, 2004, Aurelio Mercado-Irizarry and Philip Liu, eds., World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, p. 91-137. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1997 Aug 1 (eruption 1995 Jul 18 - 2003 Oct 8)	Soufriere Hills	3	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)	2		Info
1997 Aug 1: Two local residents who had often entered the restricted area were killed by pyroclastic flows in Plymouth in late July or early August 1997. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1997 Jul 15	Morne Watt NE of Watt Mtn (Valley of Desolation)	1	West Indies, Dominica
1997 Jun 25 (eruption 1995 Jul 18 - 2003 Oct 8)	Soufriere Hills	3	Montserrat, West Indies (UK)	22		Info
1997 Jun 25: Pyroclastic flows within a restricted zone on the NE flank on June 25 caused 19 confirmed fatalities; 3 others were missing and presumed dead. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1990 Mar 26 - Mar 28	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1988 Dec 29 - Dec 30	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1979 Apr 13 - Oct 26 ±5 d.	Soufrière St. Vincent	3	West Indies, St. Vincent
1979 Apr 13 (eruption 1979 Apr 13 - Oct 26 ±5 d.)	Soufrière St. Vincent	3	West Indies, St. Vincent	2		Info
1979 Apr 13: Uncertain report of 2 fatalities. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1977 Nov 11	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1976 Jul 8 - 1977 Mar 1	Soufrière de Guadeloupe SE side of summit (Gouffre Tarissan)	2	West Indies, France
1977 Jan 14	Kick 'em Jenny	0?	West Indies, Grenada
1974 Sep 5 - Sep 6	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1972 Jul 5	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1971 Oct 4 ±6 d. - 1972 Mar 20	Soufrière St. Vincent	0	West Indies, St. Vincent
1966 May 5 - Aug 6	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1965 Oct 24	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1965 Oct 24	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1956 Oct 19 - Oct 27	Soufrière de Guadeloupe ESE side, Napoléon Crater	1	West Indies, France
1953 Oct 30	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1943 Oct 5 - Oct 6	Kick 'em Jenny	0	West Indies, Grenada
1939 Jul 24	Kick 'em Jenny	1	West Indies, Grenada
1939 Jul 24	Kick 'em Jenny	1	West Indies, Grenada
1929 Sep 16 - 1932 Dec 1 ±30 d.	Pelée	3	West Indies, France
1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5	Pelée Rivière Blanche and summit crater	4	West Indies, France
1902 May 6 - 1903 Mar 30	Soufrière St. Vincent	4?	West Indies, St. Vincent
1902 Aug 30 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Pelée	4	West Indies, France	1,500		Info
1902 Aug 30: Around 21:00 local time, at least three great nuees ardentes were directed not only toward Saint-Pierre, but also down the northern and eastern flanks of the mountain. They partly destroyed Morne Rouge and Ajoupa Bouillon. These 1000 casualties added to the 8 May disaster that killed 28,000. (reference #2687) CAVW gives estimate of 1,000 but Heilprin reports that at Morne Rouge 1,200-1,500 died and that fatalities also occured in Ajoupa-Bouillon, Morne Capot, Moine Balar, and Bourden. (reference #9675) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1628 various (1951-1975): Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World including Solfatara Fields. Rome: International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, 22 volumes. [vol.s are listed individually in NGDC's Reference Database.] #2687 Tanguy J C (1994): The 1902-1905 eruptions of Montagne Pelee, Martinique: anatomy and retrospection. J Volc Geotherm Res, 60: 87-107 #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 Jul 10 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Pelée	4	West Indies, France			Info
1902 Jul 10: Reference #13721: […] two tsunamis resulting from violent eruptions of Mount Pelée, Martinique, during the 1902–1905 eruption. They are described in detail in Lacroix (1904), one occurring on the 6th of June and the other on the 9th of July 1902. In both cases, they were generated by pyroclastic density currents (PDC) reaching the western coast and were recorded in Fort-de-France as 5-min period oscillations of the sea, with more than 1- Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13721 Clouard, V., von Hillebrandt-Andrade, McCreery, C., and Sostre Cortes, J.J. (2024): Implementation of tsunami warning procedures in the Caribbean in case of a volcano crisis: Use of a Volcano Notice for tsunami Threat (VONUT). Bulletin of Volcanology (2024) 86:18. DOI: 10.1007/s00445-023-01702-8 #13722 Lacroix, A. (1904): La Montagne Pelee et ses eruptions. Masson, Paris, p 662. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 Jun 6 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Pelée	4	West Indies, France			Info
1902 Jun 6: Reference #13721: […] two tsunamis resulting from violent eruptions of Mount Pelée, Martinique, during the 1902–1905 eruption. They are described in detail in Lacroix (1904), one occurring on the 6th of June and the other on the 9th of July 1902. In both cases, they were generated by pyroclastic density currents (PDC) reaching the western coast and were recorded in Fort-de-France as 5-min period oscillations of the sea, with more than 1-m amplitude. Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13721 Clouard, V., von Hillebrandt-Andrade, McCreery, C., and Sostre Cortes, J.J. (2024): Implementation of tsunami warning procedures in the Caribbean in case of a volcano crisis: Use of a Volcano Notice for tsunami Threat (VONUT). Bulletin of Volcanology (2024) 86:18. DOI: 10.1007/s00445-023-01702-8 #13722 Lacroix, A. (1904): La Montagne Pelee et ses eruptions. Masson, Paris, p 662. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 May 20 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Pelée	4	West Indies, France		light	Info
1902 May 20: Continuing eruptions of Mount Pelee, caused disturbances of coastal waters. Cited references #537 Lander, James F., Lowell W. Whiteside, and Patricia A. Lockridge (2002): A Brief History of Tsunamis in the Caribbean Sea, Science of Tsunami Hazards, the International Journal of the Tsunami Society, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, vol. 20, no. 2, p. 57-94 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 May 8 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Pelée	4	West Indies, France	28,000		Info
1902 May 8: On May 8 at 8:02 local time pyroclastic flows destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre, 8 km south of the crater, and killed all its 27-28,000 inhabitants but one, or possibly two. (reference #2687) CAVW gives death toll as 28,000 but accounts published at the time give 30,000. More recent workers argue that normal population of 26,000 had been swollen by a few thousand refugees from outlying areas, despite the many evacuees. 28,000 is compromise figure. (reference #9675) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1628 various (1951-1975): Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World including Solfatara Fields. Rome: International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, 22 volumes. [vol.s are listed individually in NGDC's Reference Database.] #2687 Tanguy J C (1994): The 1902-1905 eruptions of Montagne Pelee, Martinique: anatomy and retrospection. J Volc Geotherm Res, 60: 87-107 #2688 Chretien S, Brousse R (1989): Events preceeding the great eruption of 8 May, 1902 at Mount Pelee, Martinique. J Volc Geotherm Res, 38: 67-75 #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 May 7 (eruption 1902 May 6 - 1903 Mar 30)	Soufrière St. Vincent	4	West Indies, St. Vincent	1,680	light	Info
1902 May 7: Reference #12922: In May 1902, the volcano of St Vincent entered into a violent eruption that sent ash high into the atmosphere, and cascades of pyroclastic density currents and lahars down the volcano flanks, and into the drainages that dissect the northern parts of St Vincent. After reaching a culmination on May 7th, 1902, the volcano had later outbursts in May, September and October 1902, and a final explosion in March 1903. Assessed losses (in GBP) 78,850. On May 23rd, the Governor reported that 1295 had perished outright (a number that Anderson and Flett, 1903, suggested was ‘certainly an underestimate’), that 70 more had died in hospital from their injuries, and 200 were missing, giving a total of 1565 presumed killed by the eruption. Numbers of casualties published in the annual Colonial Reports indicate that 1327 deaths were registered as having been due to the eruption of the Soufriere during the financial year 1902–1903 (Colonial Reports, 1903a). This figure did not include numbers of refugees who later died of dysentery, or anthrax (Colonial Reports, 1903a; Blue Book, 1903, §63). Reference #1412: 1680 deaths. Estimate of fatalities is that given in official documents, though most accounts give 1,565 with others ranging from 1,351 to> 2,000. Of 224 in hospital after May 7, ~80 died; 221 with burns and 3 children with fractured skulls. The record shows that, on May 7, 1902, tsunami-like disturbances of up to 1 meter were reported for the harbors of Grenada, Barbados and Saint Lucia. Although the origin of these waves is not known with certainty, the most likely source could have been pyroclastic flows reaching the sea from the violent eruption of Soufriere volcano on St. Vincent. Reference #9675: 1680 deaths. Estimate of fatalities is that given in official documents, though most accounts give 1,565 with others ranging from 1,351 to >2,000. Of 224 in hospital after May 7, -80 died; 221 with burns and 3 children with fractured skulls. Hovey reports only 1 killed on leeward side and 1,350 dead on windward side. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1492 O'Loughlin, Karen Fay, and James F. Lander (2003): Caribbean Tsunamis: A 500-Year History from 1498-1998. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. In cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES, University of Colorado), 263 p. #3486 Anderson, T., and Flett S.J. (1903): Report on the eruption of the Soufrière of St. Vincent in 1902 and on a visit to Montagne Pelèe in Martinique. Part I. Royal Society Philosophical Transactions Series A, vol. 200, p. 353-553. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. #12922 Pyle, D.M., Barclay, J. and Armijos, M.T. (2018): The 1902–3 eruptions of the Soufriere, St Vincent: Impacts, relief and response. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 356, 183-199. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.03.005 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 May 5 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Pelée	4	West Indies, France	23		Info
1902 May 5: Soon after midday a fast lahar descended the River Blanche. The lahar destroyed the Usine Guerin factory near the mouth of the River Blanche, killing 23 people. A small tsunami was triggered by the mudflow as it entered the sea, but the waters quickly became calm again. (reference #2687) Draining of crater lake upon failure of crater rim produced mudflows that destroyed a rum distillery, killing 23. (reference #9675) Cited references #1918 Pararas-Carayannis, George (2006): Risk assessment of tsunami generation from active volcanic sources in the eastern Caribbean region. Caribbean Tsunami Hazard, Proceedings of the NSF Caribbean Tsunami Workshop, March 30-31, 2004, Aurelio Mercado-Irizarry and Philip Liu, eds., World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, p. 91-137. #2687 Tanguy J C (1994): The 1902-1905 eruptions of Montagne Pelee, Martinique: anatomy and retrospection. J Volc Geotherm Res, 60: 87-107 #2688 Chretien S, Brousse R (1989): Events preceeding the great eruption of 8 May, 1902 at Mount Pelee, Martinique. J Volc Geotherm Res, 38: 67-75 #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

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

Caribbean FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Caribbean?

The last volcanic eruption in Caribbean was from Soufrière St. Vincent volcano during 2020 - 2021.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Caribbean?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1635 AD from Pelée volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Caribbean erupt?

Since 1635 AD, Caribbean has seen at least 40 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 9.8 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Caribbean?

Caribbean is volcanically relatively active: Since 1900, at least 6 volcanoes in Caribbean have been active.Since 1900, Caribbean has had 26 volcanic eruptions from 6 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 45 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Caribbean has been in eruption in one in 2.8 years on average. The last volcano to erupt in Caribbean was Soufrière St. Vincent volcano. Its was active from 2020 until 2021 and ended 4 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Caribbean?

The largest eruption in Caribbean in historic times was from Soufrière St. Vincent volcano. It occurred during 2020 - 2021. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Map of the volcanoes in the Lesser Antilles and West Indies (courtesy: www.mount-pelee.com)

Major islands and volcanoes of the Lesser Antilles and West Indies

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News & updates:

Tue, 8 Oct 2024, 09:33

Soufrière St. Vincent volcano (St. Vincent Island, West Indies): new thermal anomaly at summit

The heat radiation in the summit area registered by NASA's FIRMS hot spot detection system (image: FIRMS)

According to the Seismic Research Centre, a low thermal anomaly, indicating temperatures above normal levels, was detected at the summit of the volcano by NASA's FIRMS hot spot detection system on 6 October. The heat anomaly is currently ongoing. ... Read all

Wed, 13 Sep 2023, 14:00

Soufriere Hills volcano (Montserrat) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 6 September-12 September 2023 (Continuing Activity)

MVO reported that a very small increase in activity at Soufrière Hills during 1-8 September was characterized by small rockfalls coincident with volcano-tectonic earthquake activity and occasional small, low-frequency, volcanic earthquakes. The seismic network recorded 27 volcano-tectonic earthquakes spilt between two swarms recorded on 6 and 8 September. Minor rockfall activity and volcano-tectonic seismicity began at about 2100 on 7 September and was ongoing. ... Read all

Fri, 6 May 2022, 03:00

Soufriere Hills volcano (Montserrat, West Indies): small rockfall followed heavy rainfalls

The location of the rain gauge in relation to the lava dome (image: Montserrat Volcano Observatory)

A smaller rockfall activity occurred at the volcano starting on 28 April at 22:50 local time until 1 May. ... Read all

Wed, 23 Mar 2022, 19:37

Soufriere St. Vincent volcano (St. Vincent) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 16 March-22 March 2022 (Continuing Activity)

UWI Seismic Research Centre and National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) lowered the Alert Level for Soufrière St. Vincent to Green (the lowest level on a four-color scale) on 16 March, noting that seismic and fumarolic activity were at or below background levels recorded prior to the 2020-2021 eruption. The La Soufriere trail remained closed due to the uneven and dangerous terrain. ... Read all

Fri, 18 Mar 2022, 01:49

Soufrière St. Vincent volcano (St. Vincent Island, West Indies): Volcanic Alert Level lowered to Green

Satellite image of Soufrière St. Vincent volcano from 18 January (image: Sentinel 2)

Volcanologists and scientists from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and Seismic Research Centre decided to lower the alert level for the volcano from "yellow" to "green" yesterday. ... Read all