Volcanoes of Chile (159)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Chile

In historic times, at least 35 volcanoes have been active in Chile, including Lascar, Planchón-Peteroa, and Nevados de Chillán volcanoes. A total of 340 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1558 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Chile since around 2000.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Damage
2014 Dec 2 ±7 d. - ongoing	Villarrica Summit crater	3	Central Chile
2022 Dec 10 - 2023 ?	Lascar	3	Northern Chile
2016 Jan 8 - 2022 Oct 17	Nevados de Chillán Nicanor crater	2	Central Chile
2018 Nov 7 - 2019 May 7 ±1 d.	Planchón-Peteroa	1	Central Chile and Argentina (South America)
2015 Oct 30 - 2017 Apr 2 ±1 d.	Lascar Summit craters	2	Northern Chile
2015 Apr 22 - May 26	Calbuco Summit crater	4	Chile
2015 Apr 22 (eruption 2015 Apr 22 - May 26)	Calbuco	0	Chile	moderate	Info
2015 Apr 22: Most Recent Weekly Report: 22 April-28 April 2015 OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN reported that an eruption from Calbuco began at 1804 on 22 April, prompting the Alert Level to be raised to Red (the highest level on a four-color scale) and causing a 20-km exclusion zone to be declared. The eruption was preceded by an hour-long period of volcano-tectonic events followed by long-period events; no increases in seismicity had been noted since 2009 when real-time seismic monitoring started. After a large seismic event detected at 1735, a 90 minute eruption generated a sub-Plinian, gray ash plume that rose 15 km above the main crater and drifted mainly ENE, although fine ash drifted N and NW. Column collapses occurred locally and radially, affecting the headwaters of major rivers. Residents within the exclusion zone, in Chamiza, Lago Chapo, and Correntoso sectors, and in the town of Puerto Montt, were ordered to evacuate. Several roads and bridges were impassable due to ashfall. A larger second event on 23 April began at 0100, lasted six hours, and also generated a sub-Plinian ash plume that rose higher than 15 km and drifted N, NE, and E. About 5,000 people had been evacuated and ONEMI warned people not to go within 200 m of drainages due to lahar hazards. News articles noted that international flights in and out of several major cities were delayed or canceled. Some houses in areas near the volcano collapsed from the weight of the ash. ONEMI noted on 27 April that 246 of 4,514 evacuees were in shelters; the number of displaced people had peaked at 6,514 during 24-26 April. (reference #11206) Last week's spectacular twin eruptions of the Calbuco volcano will cost southern Chile's Los Lagos region, a tourism and agriculture hub, up to $600 million, a local business leader said Monday. The region is struggling to clean up some 210 million cubic meters (7.4 billion cubic feet) of ash spewed by the volcano, which contaminated rivers, lakes and vast stretches of prairie. "The Los Lagos regional economy had annual turnover of $2 billion. We estimate the eruption of Calbuco will cause losses of up to about 30 percent," he said. Los Lagos has more than a million head of cattle, around 30 percent of the total in Chile, and supplies about half the South American country's milk. Chile's salmon industry, the world's second-largest, is also facing losses. Los Lagos has the largest concentration of salmon farms in the country, but many had their water supplies contaminated by ash.The effect on the region's key tourism industry, which draws about 200,000 visitors a year, is less clear. "The volcano could decrease the number of tourists coming for outdoors activities... but it could also increase the number of tourists who want to see an active volcano," said Jadue. (reference #11205) 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/). #11205 AFP (2015): Chile volcano eruption costs region $600 mn: official. Published April 27, 2015 6:09 PM. #11206 Global Volcanism Program (2015): Calbuco Most Recent Weekly Report: 22 April-28 April 2015. Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2013 Apr 2 - Nov 20	Lascar Central active crater	1	Northern Chile
2013 Jul 25 - Jul 29 ?	Villarrica Summit crater	1	Central Chile
2011 Jun 4 - 2012 Apr 21 ?	Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Cordón Caulle, N of the 1960 eruption fissure	5	Chile
2009 Nov 22 - 2012 Apr 20	Villarrica	1	Central Chile
2011 Oct 26 - Nov 1	Cerro Hudson S and SE edge of the caldera	2	Chile
2011 Feb 17 - Jun 26 ±1 d.	Planchón-Peteroa Peteroa	2	Central Chile and Argentina (South America)
2008 May 2 - 2011 May 31 ±3 d.	Chaitén	4	Chile
2010 Sep 6 - Oct 13	Planchón-Peteroa Peteroa	2	Central Chile and Argentina (South America)
2008 Jan 1 - 2009 Jun 12 ±4 d.	Llaima Summit and upper east flank	3	Chile
2009 Jan 29 - Mar 24 ?	Villarrica	1	Central Chile
2008 Oct 26	Villarrica	1	Central Chile
2004 Aug 5 ? - 2007 Dec 24 ?	Villarrica	1	Central Chile
2007 May 26 - Aug 8 ?	Llaima	2	Chile
2006 Apr 18 - 2007 Jul 18 ?	Lascar	3	Northern Chile
2005 May 4	Lascar	3?	Northern Chile
2003 May 23 ? - 2004 Mar 25 ?	Villarrica	1	Central Chile
2003 Aug 29 - Sep 15 ±5 d.	Nevados de Chillán Saddle between Nuevo & Arrau volcanoes	1	Central Chile
2003 Apr 9 - Apr 16 or later	Llaima	2	Chile
2002 Oct 26 - Oct 27	Lascar	2	Northern Chile
2002 Oct 13 ±12 d.	Llaima	1	Chile
1998 Feb 24 ±4 d. - 2002 Jun 16 ±15 d.	Villarrica	1	Central Chile
2000 Jul 20 - 2001 Jan 18 ?	Lascar	2	Northern Chile

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

Chile FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Chile?

The last volcanic eruption in Chile was from Lascar volcano during 2022 - 2023.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Chile?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1558 AD from Villarrica volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Chile erupt?

Volcanoes in Chile erupt almost every year. Since the first historically documented eruption 1558 ADin Chile, historic sources have shown nearly continuous volcanic activity: The Global Volcanism Project counts 340 historic eruptions until now, spanning a total of 236 out of 467 years. In other words, a volcano in Chile is active roughly every one in 2 years on average. This value is likely underestimated, because the record of historically documented activity is likely inclomplete the further back in time we look.

+How active are the volcanoes in Chile?

Chile is volcanically extremely active: Since 1900, at least 26 volcanoes in Chile have been active. Almost every year, at least one volcano has erupted in Chile. The last volcano to erupt in Chile was Lascar volcano. Its was active from 2022 until 2023 and ended 3 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Chile?

The largest eruption in Chile in historic times was from Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano. It occurred during 2011 - 2012. 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: Chile

In the past 7 days, Chile was shaken by 1 quake of magnitude 5.3, 9 quakes between 4.0 and 5.0, 57 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 69 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0.

A magnitude 4.7 quake was felt in 96 km ENE of Los Andes, Chile .

Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake 96 km ENE of Los Andes, Chile widely felt -

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
Oct 26, 04:08 pm (Santiago)	4.5 103 km	59 km (37 mi) W of San José	Maipo, 41 km south of Santiago, Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan, Chile I FELT IT - 29 reports	Info
Oct 26, 12:33 pm (Santiago)	4.1 41 km	218 km (135 mi) W of Cerro Bayo	46 km Al SO De Taltal I FELT IT	Info
Saturday, October 25, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Oct 25, 12:29 pm (GMT -5)	5.3 10 km	369 km (229 mi) W of Maca	212 km Al NO De Cabo Raper I FELT IT	Info
Friday, October 24, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Oct 24, 02:56 pm (GMT -5)	4.6 36 km	418 km (260 mi) SW of El Solo	South Pacific Ocean, 36 km west of La Serena, Provincia de Elqui, Region de Coquimbo, Chile I FELT IT - 7 reports	Info
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Oct 22, 08:00 am (Salta)	4.6 173 km	49 km (30 mi) E of Aracar	Departamento de Los Andes, 211 km west of Salta, Departamento Capital, Salta Province, Argentina I FELT IT	Info
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Oct 21, 11:08 am (Mendoza)	4.7 120 km	114 km (71 mi) N of Tupungatito	96 km ENE of Los Andes, Chile I FELT IT - 30 reports	Info

See Recent Quakes

Significant Earthquakes in Chile since 1900

The deadliest earthquake in Chile since 1900 was the magnitude 8.3 earthquake in

Chile, Region de Nuble on Jan, 25, 1939. It resulted in 30,000 fatalities and an unknown number of injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects. This was the most disastrous quake in Chile ever recorded.
Most casualties and damage resulted from the tsunami that followed the quake. The height of the tsunami waves reached 29 m (95 ft). This was the 9th worst quake in Chile during recorded history. An unknown number houses and other buildings were destroyed and 500,000 damaged.

Date	Mag	Region	Deaths	Damage
2015 Sep 16	8.3	Central	15	very heavy	Info
2010 Feb 27	8.8	Maule, Concepcion, Talcahuano	558	catastrophic	Info
2007 Apr 21	6.2	Southern	10	light	Info
2005 Jun 13	7.7	Tarapaca	11	very heavy	Info
1985 Mar 3	8.0	Central Coast, San Antonio, Valparaiso	180	catastrophic	Info
1971 Jul 9	7.8	Central	83	very heavy	Info
1965 Mar 28	7.3	Central	400	very heavy	Info
1961 Oct 18	6.5	Valdivia, Curico	1-50 (*)	light	Info
1960 Nov 1	7.4	Concepcion	1-50 (*)	light	Info
1960 May 22	9.5	Puerto Montt, Valdivia	2,226	catastrophic	Info
1960 May 21	8.2	Central	1-50 (*)	light	Info
1956 Jan 8	7.1	Chile	1-50 (*)	light	Info
1950 Jan 30	7.0	Southern	1-50 (*)	unknown	Info
1949 Apr 20	7.3	Angol, Traiguen	57	moderate	Info
1943 Apr 6	8.2	Illapel	11	light	Info
1939 Jan 25	8.3	Chillan	30,000	very heavy	Info
1928 Dec 1	7.6	Talca, Chillan, Santiago, San Fernando	279	heavy	Info
1922 Nov 11	8.5	Atacama	700	heavy	Info
1918 Dec 4	7.8	Copiapo	1-50 (*)	heavy	Info
1906 Aug 17	8.2	South Central	4,000	very heavy	Info
1903 Dec 7	6.5	Vallenar, Freirina	1-50 (*)	moderate	Info

(*) Estimated numbers

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

All Quakes in History

Map

Oldest quakes (until 1960) are shown in yellow, most recent (from 2000) in red.

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Significant Earthquakes in Chile FAQ

+Which was the deadliest earthquake in Chile since 1900?

The deadliest earthquake in Chile since 1900 was the magnitude 8.3 earthquake in Chile, Region de Nuble on Jan, 25, 1939. It resulted in 30,000 fatalities and an unknown number of injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects. This was the most disastrous quake in Chile ever recorded.

+Which was the earthquake that caused most damage in Chile since 1900?

The earthquake that caused most damage was the magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile, Region de Nuble on Feb, 27, 2010. It caused 558 fatalities and estimated $30 billion US Dollars (today's equivalent) in total economic damage.