Galeras Volcano

Updated: Oct 28, 2025 15:02 GMT - refresh

complex stratovolcano

Colombia, 1.22°N / -77.37°W

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Summit height: 4276 m / 14,029 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 10 Dec 2021

Galeras is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes. In an eruption in 1993, it killed a group of scientists and tourists who had been inside its crater when it erupted.

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Galeras webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Galeras volcano eruptions: 1535, 1580, 1616, 1641-43, 1670-1736, 1754-56, 1796-1801, 1823, 1828-34, 1834, 1836(?), 1865-70, 1889, 1891, 1923, 1924-27, 1930, 1932, 1933(?), 1936, 1947, 1950, 1973(?), 1974-83, Feb-May 1989, Jan 1990 - July 1992, Jan-June 1993, Mar-May 2000, June 2002, July 2004 - Feb 2005, Nov 2005 - July2006, Oct 2007 - Jan 2008, Oct 2008 - 2010

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Oct 22, 07:25 am (Bogota)	3.1 13 km	19 km (12 mi) to the NE	Chachagüí - Nariño, Colombia - Area De Influencia Volcan Galeras I FELT IT - 2 reports	Info
Oct 22, 07:25 am (Bogota)	2.5 13 km	23 km (14 mi) to the NE	Buesaco - Nariño, Colombia	Info

View recent quakes

Background

Galeras is one of Colombia's most frequently active volcanoes. The dominantly andesitic volcano has been active for more than 1 million years, and two major caldera collapse eruptions took place during the past 100,000 years. Several collapse events have produced debris avalanches that swept to the west and left a large horseshoe-shaped caldera inside which the modern cone has been constructed.
Major explosive eruptions in the past thousands of years have produced widespread tephra deposits and pyroclastic flows that swept all but the southern flanks. A central cone slightly lower than the caldera rim has been the site of numerous small-to-moderate historical eruptions since the time of the Spanish conquistadors.

The fatal eruption in 1993
Galeras became active again in 1988 after 10 years of dormancy. It became infamous when it erupted on 14 January 1993, killing six volcanologists and three tourists who were inside the crater when it exploded. The group was part of an scientific conference excursion and their final decision to enter the crater, pushed forth by team leader Stanley Williams (who miracoulously survived), was and still is highly debated: the fatal decision was made despite the observation of a significantly increased number of particular earthquakes (tornillos), which had preceded previous eruptions and also started to occur in the days before the eruption.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Galeras volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Galeras has had at least 36 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 30 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 6 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Galeras volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Galeras volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Galeras can be found on the news page of Galeras volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths
2012 May 13 - 2014 Jan 30 ±1 d.	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 2011 Mar 31 - Apr 1	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	?
2010 Aug 25	Central cone Historical obs./docs.	1
2008 Oct 21 ? - 2010 Jan 2 ?	Historical obs./docs.	3
2007 Oct 4 - 2008 Jan 17	Historical obs./docs.	3?
2005 Nov 24 - 2006 Jul 12	Historical obs./docs.	2
2004 Jul 16 - 2005 Feb 7 ?	El Pinta vent Historical obs./docs.	3
2002 Jun 7	El Pinta vent Historical obs./docs.	1?
2000 Mar 21 - May 18	Historical obs./docs.	1
1993 Jan 14 - Jun 7	Summit crater, west, SW, & south rims Historical obs./docs.	2
1993 Jan 14 (eruption 1993 Jan 14 - Jun 7)	Historical obs./docs.	2	9	Info
1993 Jan 14: A sudden explosion killed 9 persons, including 6 volcanologists who were in (and on the rim of) the inner crater. 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. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1990 Jan 7 - 1992 Jul 16	Historical obs./docs.	2
1989 Feb 19 - May 9	El Pinta vent Historical obs./docs.	2
1974 Jul 2 ±182 d. - 1983 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Historical obs./docs.	1?
?? 1973 May 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	2
1950 Jan 12 - Sep 5	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1947 Jul 15	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1936 Feb 9 - Aug 27 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1933	Uncertain Eruption	?
1932 Oct 10	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1930 Apr 17	Uncertain Eruption	?
1924 Oct - 1927	Historical obs./docs.	3
1923 Dec 8	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

Galeras Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Galeras volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Galeras occurred during 2012 - 2014.

+How often does Galeras volcano erupt?

Since 1535 AD, Galeras volcano has had at least 30 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 16.3 years.
Many eruptions of Galeras have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 133 out of 490 years until now. In other words, Galeras has been active at least one in 3.7 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Galeras is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Galeras volcano at present?

Galeras volcano is very active: Since 1900, it has had 35 eruptions, and been active during 35 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Galeras has been in eruption one in 3.6 years on average. The last eruption was from 2012 until 2014 and ended 12 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Galeras volcano?

The largest eruption of Galeras volcano in historic times occurred during 2008 - 2010. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Galeras 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).