Dempo Volcano
Updated: Nov 14, 2025 17:39 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Sumatra (Indonesia), -4.02°S / 103.12°E 
Summit height: 3173 m (10,410 ft)
Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)
Last update: 1 Oct 2025 (Smithsonian Daily Volcanic Activity Report)
Dempo is a prominent 3173-m-high stratovolcano that rises above the Pasumah Plain of SE Sumatra. It is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes and one of the country's volcanoes with the largest number of recorded eruptions, most of them being relatively small explosive events.
[smaller] [larger]
Dempo volcano eruptions: 1817, 1839(?), 1853, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1881, 1884, 1895, 1900, 1900, 1905, 1908, 1921, 1923, 1926, 1934, 1936, 1939, 1939-40, 1964, 1973, 1994, 2006, 2009
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 12:30 pm (Jakarta) | 2.7 5 km | 21 km (13 mi) to the SW | 33 km west of Pagar Alam, Lahat Regency, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia | Info | |
| Friday, June 6, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Jun 6, 01:15 pm (GMT +7) | 2.6 7 km | 25 km (15 mi) to the NE | Southern Sumatra, Indonesia | Info | |
| Friday, May 16, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| May 17, 03:07 am (GMT +7) | 2.5 10 km | 24 km (15 mi) to the N | Kabupaten Empat Lawang, 30 km northwest of Pagar Alam, Indonesia | Info | |
| Tuesday, April 8, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 8, 07:09 am (GMT +7) | 2.5 10 km | 14 km (8.5 mi) to the E | 5.1 km north of Pagar Alam, Lahat Regency, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia | Info | |
| Friday, April 4, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Apr 4, 01:47 pm (Jakarta) | 2.8 10 km | 22 km (14 mi) to the NE | 13 km northeast of Pagar Alam, Lahat Regency, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia | Info | |
| Saturday, February 22, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Feb 23, 04:30 am (GMT +7) | 2.6 10 km | 3.4 km (2.1 mi) to the SE | Kota Pagar Alam, 10.8 km west of Pagar Alam, Indonesia | Info | |
| Friday, January 17, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Jan 17, 07:23 pm (Jakarta) | 2.2 10 km | 13 km (8.2 mi) to the NW | Southern Sumatra, Indonesia | Info | |
Background
Remnants of 7 craters are found at or near the summit, with volcanism migrating to the WNW with time. The historically active summit crater of Gunung Dempo contains a 400-m-wide lake, located at the NW end of the crater complex. Historical eruptions have been restricted to small-to-moderate explosive activity that produced ashfall near the volcano.---
Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institute
Significant volcanic eruptions: Dempo volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Dempo has had at least 32 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Dempo volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Dempo can be found on the news page of Dempo volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | ? | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| Summit crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1? | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 0 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
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
Dempo Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Dempo volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Dempo occurred in 2024.
+How often does Dempo volcano erupt?
Since 1817, Dempo volcano has had at least 32 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 6.5 years.
+How active is Dempo volcano at present?
Dempo volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 20 eruptions, and been active during 20 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Dempo has been in eruption one in 6.3 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 12 months ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Dempo volcano?
The largest eruption of Dempo volcano in historic times occurred in 2023. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
Dempo Volcano Maps
Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Dempo volcano (scale of few kilometers)
