Volcanoes, Eruptions and Earthquakes in Guatemala

Volcanoes of Guatemala

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Guatemala

In historic times, at least 6 volcanoes have been active in Guatemala, including Pacaya, Fuego, and Acatenango volcanoes. A total of 102 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1469 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Guatemala since 1900.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
1922 Jun 22 - ongoing	Santiaguito SW flank (Santiaguito)	3	Guatemala
2002 Jan 4 - ongoing	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
2015 Jun 7 ±1 d. - 2021 Aug 13	Pacaya MacKenney Crater	1	Guatemala
2021 Mar (eruption 2015 Jun 7 ±1 d. - 2021 Aug 13)	Pacaya	1	Guatemala		light	Info
2021 Mar: A new fast-moving flow appeared on the SW flank during the second half of March and rapidly reached 1.5 km in length, flowing NW then SW, ultimately extending over 3 km. It had multiple branches that caused vegetation fires, destroyed significant cropland (avocado and coffee plantations), and crossed roads before stopping in mid-April. (ref #13004) 24 families were impacted/affected and 3.5 hectares (~8.6 acres) of damage to avocado and coffees crops. (ref #13003) Cited references #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. #13003 Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Alimentacion (Guatemala) (2021): Actualizacion por actividad del volcan de Pacaya. Alertivo No. 14. Published 30 March 2021. Link #13004 Global Volcanism Program (2021): Report on Pacaya (Guatemala) (Crafford, A.E., and Venzke, E., eds.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 46:6. Smithsonian Institution. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2018 Jun 3 (eruption 2002 Jan 4 - ongoing)	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)	201	very heavy	Info
2018 Jun 3: In a special bulletin from 0600 on 3 June INSIVUMEH noted increased activity at Fuego. Strong explosions were accompanied by rumbling sounds, and shock waves that vibrated local structures. Dense ash plumes rose 2.3 km above the crater and drifted SW, W, NW, and N. Pyroclastic flows descended the Seca (Santa Teresa) drainage on the W flank, and possibly other drainages, though poor weather conditions prevented clear views of the summit area. Ash plumes drifted in westerly directions, causing ashfall (on roofs and cars). On 5 June INSIVUMEH reported that activity again increased. Explosions occurring at a rate of 8-10/hour, some strong, generated ash plumes that rose 5 km and drifted E and NE. At 1928 a pyroclastic flow traveled down the Las Lajas drainage. (reference #2432) Rescue workers searched for survivors on Monday amid a desolate landscape of ash and mud after a volcano erupted near the Guatemalan capital the previous day, killing at least 62 people. The number of missing after Volcán del Fuego's eruption was unclear, said the authorities from Guatemala's natural disaster commission, known as Conred. The volcano, which sits less than 30 miles from the capital, Guatemala City, erupted just before noon Sunday and continued to spew ash, rocks and gas into the air. A second powerful eruption followed at 6:45 p.m. Some two million people were affected by the volcano's ash, which billowed 15,000 feet into the air and dispersed over a nine-mile radius. More than 3,200 people were evacuated, and at least 46 people were injured, some of them with severe burns. More than 1,600 were in shelters. (reference #12159) People affected: 1,714,387. People evacuated: 12,823. People treated: 8,534. People in shelters: 3,559. People injured: 57. Deaths: 112. Missing: 197. Houses destroyed: 186 Energy grid impacted: 2. Bridges destroyed: 2. Roads Destroyed: 1. Roads impacted: 5. Schools Impacted 3. Schools destroyed: 1. (reference #12161) According to Asociación Nacional del Café (Anacafe) technicians, the volcanic eruption has direct impacts in an area of 3,400 to 4,055 blocks of land of the coffee crop, which would represent 0.91 percent of the national production. (reference #12162) People affected: 1,714,387. People evacuated: 12,823. People treated: 8,866. People injured: 27. Deaths: 201. Missing: 229. Houses destroyed: 186 Energy grid impacted: 2. Bridges destroyed: 2. Roads Destroyed: 1. Roads impacted: 5. Schools Impacted: 3. Schools destroyed: 1. (reference #12179) [...]the figure is very different from the one provided by volunteer group Antigua al Rescate, which reported that there are more than 2,900 dead and missing in ground zero in San Miguel Los Lotes, with 470 of those children.(reference #12180) 461 total deaths (includes rain events) (reference #1250) USD 120 million overall losses (reference #12634) 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/). #12159 New York Times (2018): Guatemalas Fuego Volcano Erupts, Killing at Least 62. Published 04 June 2018. Link #12161 Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reduccion De Desastres (CONRED), Guatemala (2018): Erupcion: Volcan de Fuego, Informe General. 22 June 2018, 07:00. #12162 El Periodico (Guatemala) (2018): Erupcion volcanica impacto a 4 mil 55 manzanas de cafe. Published 05 June 2018. Link #12163 Instituto Nacional de Sismologia, Vulcanologia, meteorologia, e Hidrologia (INSIVUMEH), Guatemala (2018): Boletin Vulcanologico Especial BEFCO #35-2018. Published 04 June 2018. Link #12179 Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reduccion De Desastres (CONRED), Guatemala (2018): Erupcion: Volcan de Fuego, Informe General. 10 August 2018, 07:00 #12180 Latin American Herald Tribune (2018): At Least 73 Minors Missing after Guatemala Volcano Eruption, Authorities Say. Link #12629 Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reduccion De Desastres (CONRED), Guatemala (2019): Erupcion: Volcan de Fuego, Informe General. 02 June 2019, 17:30 #12634 Munich Re Group (2020): NatCatSERVICE Relevant geophysical events worldwide 2018. Accessed 05 February 2020. Munich Re Group Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2017 Jun 6 (eruption 2002 Jan 4 - ongoing)	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)		moderate	Info
2017 Jun 6: Explosions with ash emissions continued daily at Fuego during January-June 2017; five episodes of increased activity generated higher ash plumes, lava flows, and pyroclastic flows. The period of activity during 5-6 June, designated Episode 5, generated two lava flows (2 and 3 km long) and a pyroclastic flow. Eruptive episode 5 for 2017 began during the late afternoon of 5 June. Moderate and strong Strombolian explosions generated an ash plume that rose to 6 km altitude and drifted more than 20 km W, SE, and NW from the crater. Sounds as loud as a freight train were reported nearby, and vibrations were felt in communities around the volcano. Lava flowed 3 km down the Santa Teresa ravine and 2 km down Ceniza canyon. Volcanic bombs rose 200 m high, and fell more than 300 m from the summit crater. Pyroclastic flows descended the Santa Teresa canyon on the W flank. Thirteen lahars were reported during June. They descended the Santa Teresa, Mineral, Trinidad, Ceniza, Las Lajas, and El Jute ravines, tributaries of the Pantaleón, Achíguate and Guacalate rivers. Overflows from the drainages damaged several roads and river crossings in the region. (all above from reference #2432) 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/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2014 Aug 25 - 2015 Feb 17	Pacaya MacKenney Crater	1	Guatemala
2013 Mar 5 - 2014 Apr 10	Pacaya MacKenney Crater	2	Guatemala
2006 Mar 9 - 2010 Oct 26	Pacaya MacKenney Cone	3	Guatemala
2010 May 27 (eruptive episode 2010 May 27)	Pacaya	1	Guatemala	1	light	Info
2010 May 27: Guatemala's Pacaya volcano started erupting lava and rocks Thursday afternoon, blanketing the country's capital with ash and forcing the closure of the international airport. A television reporter was killed by a shower of burning rocks when he got too close to the volcano, about 15 miles (25 kilometers) south of Guatemala City. (reference #9674) Weekly Report 26 May-1 June 2010: INSIVUMEH reported a continuing series of explosions 5-10 seconds apart that ejected black ash up to 1 km above the crater on 28 May... CONRED reported a short time later that about 1,600 people had been evacuated from six towns 3-4 km W, NNW, N, and NNE, and that Aurora International Airport was closed. According to a map posted by CONRED, blocks fell in areas as far away as 12 km NE and ash was reported in areas E of Chinautla, 37 km NNE. News media reported that one person (a reporter) died and three children were missing. On 29 May, a 90-m-wide lava flow that traveled SSE at an estimated rate of 100 m per hour burned three houses on the Pacaya Grande ranch... (reference #2432) 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/). #9674 Associated Press (2010): Big volcanic eruptions in Guatemala, Ecuador, AP foreign, Friday May 28 2010, The Guardian. Retrieved from link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2004 Jul 19 ? - 2005 Sep 11	Pacaya MacKenney Cone and lower S flank	3?	Guatemala
2002 May 30 - Jun 17 ?	Pacaya MacKenney Crater	1?	Guatemala
2001 Oct 31	Pacaya MacKenney Crater	1	Guatemala
2000 Aug 16 ±15 d. - 2001 Jul 5 ?	Pacaya MacKenney Crater	1	Guatemala
1999 May 21 - 2000 Dec 9 or later	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1990 Jan 4 ? - 2000 Mar 1	Pacaya MacKenney Crater and flank vents	3	Guatemala
1995 Apr 7 (eruption 1990 Jan 4 ? - 2000 Mar 1)	Pacaya	3	Guatemala	1	light	Info
1995 Apr 7: A lahar completely covered a house and killed a little girl in Los Rios. The inhabitants were evacuated as 25-35-cm-thick volcanic sand was deposited over the village. As a result of a hazard study, many villagers had been previously evacuated. (reference #2432) 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/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1990 Jul 19 (eruption 1922 Jun 22 - ongoing)	Santiaguito	3	Guatemala	4		Info
1990 Jul 19: Four hikers on a government-sponsored filming expedition were killed by explosions while on the E rim of the 1902 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
1965 Jul 4 - 1989 Mar 10	Pacaya MacKenney Crater and flank vents	3	Guatemala
1987 Jan 5 ±4 d. - Feb 16 ±15 d.	Fuego	1	Guatemala (Central America)
1987 Jan 25 (eruption 1965 Jul 4 - 1989 Mar 10)	Pacaya	3	Guatemala		light	Info
1987 Jan 25: The explosion, at about 1730 [25 January 1987], ejected a column that rose to 8 km altitude and was blown south by 70 km/hour winds. Many houses in El Caracol (3 km SW of the vent), El Patrocinio (3.5 km W), and Los Pocitos (6 km SSE) were hit by 25-cm blocks... The press reported at least 15 injuries (but only one that required hospitalization) and as many as 3,000 evacuees. The next day the head of the National Emergency Committee said that 600 people remained evacuated, 63 homes were damaged, and many cattle and pigs had been killed. As of mid-February, typical Strombolian activity had resumed, and no additional strong explosions had been reported. (reference #2432) 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/). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1977 Sep 11 - 1979 Aug 8	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1978 Sep 2 (eruption 1922 Jun 22 - ongoing)	Santiaguito	3	Guatemala	1		Info
1978 Sep 2: Mudflow from breakup of ash and block dams on rivers killed 1. 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
1977 Mar 3 - Apr 19	Fuego	1	Guatemala (Central America)
1975 May 28 - Oct 21	Fuego	1	Guatemala (Central America)
1974 Oct 10 - Dec 4	Fuego	4	Guatemala (Central America)
1974 Oct 10 (eruption 1974 Oct 10 - Dec 4)	Fuego	4	Guatemala (Central America)	1-50 (*)	moderate	Info
1974 Oct 10: Deaths caused by a shower of bombs. 2-3 killed by hot water and mud. Although there were few casualties, thousands abandoned their houses, many of which were destroyed by the weight of ash. 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
1973 Feb 23 - Mar 23	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1972 Nov 12 - Dec 16 ±15 d.	Acatenango Pico Central-Yepocapa saddle	1	Guatemala
1971 Sep 14 - Sep 15	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1971 Sep 14 (eruption 1971 Sep 14 - Sep 15)	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)	10		Info
1971 Sep 14: BVE gives 10 killed of unstated causes. CSLP gives 2 killed in San Pedro Yepocapa by about 30 cm ashfall. 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. #1627 BVE: Bulletin of Volcanic Eruptions #1630 Smithsonian Institution (1968-1975): Smithsonian Institution-CSLP, 1968-75. [Event notification cards]. Center for Short-Lived Phenomena (CSLP) Event Cards Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1967 Apr 22 - Apr 24	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1966 Aug 12 - Aug 13	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1966 Feb 7 - May 1	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1963 Sep 28 - Sep 30	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1963 Sep 28 (eruption 1963 Sep 28 - Sep 30)	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)	7		Info
1963 Sep 28: Renewed ashfall triggered a lahar in which 7 persons perished. 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
1962 Aug 4 - Nov 9	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1961 Mar 11 - Apr 15 ?	Pacaya Cachajinas vent (South flank, 1860 m)	2	Guatemala
1957 Feb 19 - Feb 21 or later	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1955 Jul 26 ±5 d.	Fuego	1	Guatemala (Central America)
1953 Apr 9 - Apr 13	Fuego	3	Guatemala (Central America)
1949 Nov	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1947	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1944 Dec 1 ±30 d.	Fuego	2	Guatemala (Central America)
1932 Jan 21 - Jan 22	Fuego	4	Guatemala (Central America)
1929 Nov 2 (eruption 1922 Jun 22 - ongoing)	Santiaguito	3	Guatemala	200		Info
1929 Nov 2: CAVW lists 23 fatalities for pyroclastic flow. Volcano Letter (VL) gives 45 deaths, with 21 bodies found at El Palmar, 10 km from the crater but later VL details 26 more killed by hot mud at a plantation on the Rio Tambor. This source also implies that loss of life approached that in the 1902 eruption. Mercado et al. suggest 11/02 dome collapse pyroclastic flow killed from several hundred to as many as 5,000 persons. (reference #9675) Cited references #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.] #1641 Jaggar, T.A. (1931): Eruption of Santa Maria [Guatemala] November 1929. The Volcano Letter, 356: 1-4 #1656 Mercado R, Rose W I, Matias O, Giron J (1988): November 1929 dome collapse and pyroclastic flow at Santiaguito dome, Guatemala (abstract). Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 69: 1487 #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
1926 Aug - 1927 May 19	Acatenango Pico Central	2	Guatemala
1924 Dec 18 - 1925 Jun 7	Acatenango North slope of Pico Central	3	Guatemala
1903 - 1913	Santiaguito SW flank (east end of 1902 crater)	2	Guatemala
1902 Oct 24 - Nov 12	Santiaguito SW flank	6?	Guatemala
1902 Oct 25 (eruption 1902 Oct 24 - Nov 12)	Santiaguito	6	Guatemala	10,000	moderate	Info
1902 Oct 25: Reference #9675: Sapper says that hundreds of people were killed in collapsing houses. One source says 10 villages of 50-5,000 inhabitants each were buried beneath tons of volcanic debris. At one plantation 11 km from the volcano, 105 of 112 laborers died. At a village over 350 died, suffocated by deadly fumes. Anderson suggested 2-3,000 kiUed and many more (i.e. >2,000) died in subsequent malaria outbreak because ashfall killed birds but not mosquitoes. Both Coleman and Wilcoxson give estimates of 6,000 killed; Witham estimates 5,000-10,000 deaths from disease. Reference #1182, #7895: 6000 killed from Santa Maria eruption. Reference #7815: The Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Thursday 25 December 1902, p. 5. A FLAMING CRATER. HORROR IN GUATEMALA. AN ENTIRE REPUBLIC STRICKEN. "The coffee districts of Costa Cuca, Chuva, Palmer, Reforma, Costa Grande, and Kolhuitz are destroyed by the eruption," the factor wrote... The towns of Palmer, San Felipe, Coombia, and Centepee, are all ruined. Ashes are 7 ft. deep in the tineas and towns. Mud, stones, and lava have fallen all over the country. Houses have been crushed by the weight of the volcanic material that has fallen upon them. Retalhuleu, Mazatenango, and Quezaltenango have not suffered so much, but this calamity is only beginning. We have mud and ashes in Retalhuleu. There is great loss of life. Cattle and horses are dead by thousands. Famine and pest are approaching. God help us! Bridges and roads have been destroyed. It is impossible to get further news. LIVES REPORTED LOST. It is the common belief in all the coast towns of Central America that thousands of lives have been sacrificed in this awful disaster. Those who have come in from the region immediate to the zone of devastation insist that all who were in the towns of Pilmar, San Felipe, Colombia, and Coatepee must have perished. LOSS REACHES MILLIONS. The property losses are enormous. The estimates of these losses are in varying millions. The coffee fincas of the Western Department of Guatemala were among the most productive and profitable in the world. On October 31 advices were received in this city to the effect that the entire coffee zone of Guatemala had been destroyed, and that the lives of all engaged on the fincas and living in the towns and villages were in imminent danger. Later information not only confirms these first reports, but greatly enlarges the area of destruction and vastly increases the amount of loss to the coffee planters. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. Mr. James C. McNally, United States Consul-General at Guatemala City, in his official report to the State Department, estimates the total loss at more than £1,000,000. He says ; "As a climax to the terrible earthquakes of April 18, which practically compassed the ruin of Quezaltenango, the volcano Santa Maria, almost adjoining that city, erupted on October 24, throwing out quantities of mud and ashes, causing untold damage on the coast side, which comprises the rich coffee zone of Guatemala. The volcano is still active, and ashes are falling on places 30 miles distant from the crater." FIFTEEN THOUSAND PERSONS DEAD. Mr. Hans Lang left here six weeks ago to assume the position of assistant manager of the plantation of Lucerno, near Osuna. In speaking of the loss of life resulting from the eruption, Mr. Lang said:--"In Guatemala City it was estimated that 15,000 lives were lost. The exact number will never be known, as thousands lie buried beneath the ashes, and their bodies will never be recovered. I was stationed fifty miles from Santa Maria, and no ashes fell on my plantation, although the rumblings were distinctly heard and the lightning flashes plainly seen. When the volcano of Fuego, adjacent to the plantation, began to belch forth smoke, I thought it time to decamp, so I made my way to Guatemala City. Cited references #1182 Latter, J.H. (1969): Natural Disasters, Advancement of Science 25 (126), p. 362-380. #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. #1667 Sapper, K. (1917): Katalog der Geschichtlichen Vulkanausbruche. Strasbourg: Karl J Trubner, 358 p #7815 The Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia (1902): A Flaming Crater - Horror in Guatemala - An Entire Republic Stricken - Lives Reported Lost, The Advertiser, Thursday 25 December 1902, p. 5. Retrieved June 21, 2010 from http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4910377 #7895 Blanchard-Boehm, R. Denise (2004): Natural Hazards in Latin America: Tectonic Forces and Storm Fury. The Social Studies Journal, p. 93-105. #8475 Rose, William I. (1972): Notes on the 1902 eruption of Santa Mara volcano, Guatemala. Bulletin volcanologique; organe de la Section de volcanologie de l'Union geodesique et geophysique intemationale, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 29-45. #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

(*) Estimated numbers

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

Guatemala FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Guatemala?

The last volcanic eruption in Guatemala was from Pacaya volcano during 2015 - 2021.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Guatemala?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1469 AD from Atitlán volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Guatemala erupt?

Since 1469 AD, Guatemala has seen at least 102 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 5.5 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Guatemala?

Guatemala is volcanically extremely active: Since 1900, at least 4 volcanoes in Guatemala have been active. Almost every year, at least one volcano has erupted in Guatemala. The last volcano to erupt in Guatemala was Pacaya volcano. Its was active from 2015 until 2021 and ended 4 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Guatemala?

The largest eruption in Guatemala in historic times was from Santiaguito volcano. It occurred in 1902. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 6 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest earthquakes: Guatemala

In the past 7 days, Guatemala was shaken by 5 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or above, 5 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 24 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 14 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel.

A Magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred in 18 km N of Tapachula, Estado de Chiapas, Mexico .

Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake 18 km N of Tapachula, Estado de Chiapas, Mexico -

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
May 21, 01:31 am (Merida)	4.2 105 km	19 km (12 mi) W of Tacana	18 km north of Tapachula, Estado de Chiapas, Mexico I FELT IT	Info
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 20, 04:35 am (GMT -6)	3.3 5 km	54 km (34 mi) SW of Tecuamburro	22 km Al Sur De Iztapa, Guatemala I FELT IT	Info
Monday, May 19, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 19, 07:56 am (GMT -6)	4.1 47 km	128 km (80 mi) SW of Atitlán	58 km Al Sur De El Semillero, Guatemala I FELT IT	Info
Sunday, May 18, 2025 GMT (3 quakes)
May 18, 11:12 am (GMT -6)	4.1 81 km	111 km (69 mi) SW of Santiaguito	Offshore Guatemala I FELT IT	Info
May 18, 10:59 am (GMT -6)	4.2 14 km	138 km (86 mi) SW of Santiaguito	Offshore Guatemala I FELT IT	Info
May 18, 06:33 am (GMT -6)	4.0 6.9 km	137 km (85 mi) SW of Santiaguito	Offshore Guatemala I FELT IT	Info

See Recent Quakes

Significant Earthquakes in Guatemala since 1900

The deadliest earthquake in Guatemala since 1900 was the magnitude 7.5 earthquake in

Guatemala, Departamento de Izabal on Feb, 4, 1976. It resulted in 23,000 fatalities and 76,000 injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects. This was the most disastrous quake in Guatemala ever recorded. This was also the most damaging earthquake that occurred in this time: total economic losses were estimated to the equivalent of $2.1 billion US Dollars. 255,000 houses and other buildings were destroyed and more than 1,000 damaged.

Date	Mag	Region	Deaths	Damage
2012 Nov 7	7.3	San Marcos, San Cristobal Cochu	48	very heavy	Info
1991 Sep 18	6.2	Guatemala City, Pachuta, Solola	25	heavy	Info
1978 Jul 29	4.5	Patzun	17	moderate	Info
1976 Feb 4	7.5	Chimaltenango, Guatemala City	23,000	catastrophic	Info
1917 Dec 26	6.0	Guatemala City	2,650	very heavy	Info
1902 Apr 19	7.5	Quezaltenango, San Marcos	2,000	heavy	Info

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 Guatemala FAQ

+Which was the deadliest earthquake in Guatemala since 1900?

The deadliest earthquake in Guatemala since 1900 was the magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Guatemala, Departamento de Izabal on Feb, 4, 1976. It resulted in 23,000 fatalities and 76,000 injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects. This was the most disastrous quake in Guatemala ever recorded.

+How many people were killed by earthquakes in Guatemala since 1900?

Since 1900, at least 15 earthquakes claimed an estimated total of 28,000 fatalities in Guatemala.

+How much damage did earthquakes cause in Guatemala since 1900?

There were 26 damaging or deadly quakes during this period that caused economic losses of approx. $2.6 billion US Dollars combined.

Volcano List

Acatenango

(Stratovolcano 3976 m / 13,044 ft)

[more info]

Agua

(Stratovolcano 3760 m / 12,336 ft)

[more info]

Almolonga

(Stratovolcano 3197 m / 10,489 ft)

[more info]

Atitlán

(Stratovolcano 3535 m / 11,598 ft)

[more info]

Ayarza

(Caldera(s) 1409 m / 4623 ft)

[more info]

Barahona

(Caldera(s) 2282 m / 7487 ft)

[more info]

Cerro Alutate

(Stratovolcano 2116 m / 6942 ft)

[more info]

Cerro Ananopa

(Volcanic field 386 m / 1266 ft)

[more info]

Cerro Redondo

(Shield(s) 768 m / 2520 ft)

[more info]

Cerro Santiago

(Volcanic field 1192 m / 3,911 ft)

[more info]

Chiquimula Volcanic Field

(Cinder cones 1192 m / 3,911 ft)

[more info]

Cuilapa-Barbarena

(Volcanic field 1454 m / 4,770 ft)

[more info]

Cuxliquel

(Lava dome(s) 3029 m / 9938 ft)

[more info]

Fuego

(Stratovolcano 3,763 m / 12,346 ft)

An ash eruption from Fuego volcano seen from the distance

Fuego, one of Central America's most active volcanoes, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua. It typically has strombolian activity and sometimes phases of intense lava fountaining, producing tall ash plumes and dangerous pyroclasti... [more info]

Guistepeque Volcanic Field

(Pyroclastic cone(s) 1358 m / 4455 ft)

[more info]

Ipala

(Stratovolcano 1650 m / 5,413 ft)

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Ixhuatan

(Complex 1675 m / 5495 ft)

[more info]

Ixtepeque

(Lava domes 1292 m / 4,239 ft)

[more info]

Jumay Volcanic Field

(Stratovolcano 2174 m / 7133 ft)

[more info]

Jumaytepeque

(Stratovolcano 1815 m / 5,955 ft)

[more info]

Moyuta

(Stratovolcano 1662 m / 5,453 ft)

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Pacaya

(Complex volcano 2552 m (8,373 ft))

Pacaya volcano near Guatemala City is one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes, and its frequent eruptions are often visible from Guatemala City. Typical activity in recent years includes strombolian activity, lava flow emission and intermittend violent phases of lava fountaining... [more info]

Piedra Grande

(Stratovolcano(es) 1640 m / 5381 ft)

[more info]

Pueblo Nuevo Viñas

(Stratovolcano 1939 m / 6362 ft)

[more info]

Quezaltepeque

(Volcanic field 1200 m / 3,937 ft)

[more info]

San Pedro

(Stratovolcano 3020 m / 9908 ft)

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Santiaguito

(Stratovolcano 3772 m (12,375 ft))

The lava dome complex of Santiaguito volcano seen from Santa Maria's summit

Santiaguito is the name of the dome complex that grew inside the collapse scar left by the catastrophic eruption and partial collapse of Santa María stratovolcano in 1902. Its currently active dome is called Caliente (the "hot one").
Symmetrical, forest-covered Santa María ... [more info]

Santo Tomas

(Stratovolcano(es) 3542 m / 11621 ft)

[more info]

Siete Orejas

(Stratovolcano 3370 m / 11056 ft)

[more info]

Suchitán

(Stratovolcanoes 2042 m / 6,699 ft)

[more info]

Tacana

(stratovolcano 4060 m / 13,320 ft)

Tacaná volcano on the Mexican-Guatemalan border is a symmetrical stratovolcano rising 1800 m above its base and forms the NW end of the Central American Volcanic Belt.
Tacana consists of overlapping volcanic edifices, reflecting a migration of vents from the NE to the SW o... [more info]