Kerinci Volcano

Updated: Aug 6, 2025 10:50 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Sumatra (Indonesia), -1.7°S / 101.27°E

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Summit height: 3800 m / 12,467 ft

Current status: minor activity or eruption warning (3 out of 5)

Last update: 29 May 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

The 3800-m-high Gunung Kerinci in central Sumatra is Indonesia's highest volcano and one of the most active in Sumatra.

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Kerinci webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style:

Frequent moderate explosive eruptions.

Kerinci volcano eruptions: 1838, 1842, 1874(?), 1878, 1908-09, 1921, 1923, 1936, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1952, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969-70, 1971(?), 1990, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001-02, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

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Background

Kerinci is capped by an unvegetated young summit cone that was constructed NE of an older crater remnant. The volcano contains a deep 600-m-wide summit crater often partially filled by a small crater lake that lies on the NE crater floor, opposite the SW-rim summit of Kerinci.
The massive 13 x 25 km wide volcano towers 2400-3300 m above surrounding plains and is elongated in a N-S direction. The frequently active Gunung Kerinci has been the source of numerous moderate explosive eruptions since its first recorded eruption in 1838.

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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institute

Significant volcanic eruptions: Kerinci volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Kerinci has had at least 38 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations. There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1971 from Kerinci volcano.

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

Date	Note	VEI
2024 May 28	Historical obs./docs.	2
2022 Oct 15 - 2023 Feb 27	Historical obs./docs.	2
2018 Apr 21 - 2021 Jun 13	Historical obs./docs.	1
2017 Aug 13	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	1
2016 Nov 15 - Nov 21	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	1
2016 Mar 31 - Jun 9	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2013 Jun 2	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	2
2011 Dec 15	Summit crater Historical obs./docs.	1
2009 Apr 1 ? - Jun 19 ?	Historical obs./docs.	1
2008 Mar 24	Historical obs./docs.	1
2007 Sep 9	Historical obs./docs.	1
2004 Jun 22 ? - Oct 24 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
2001 May 12 - 2002 Aug 27 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
1999 Mar 16 ±15 d. - Sep 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1998 Nov 3	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1998 Jul 4	Historical obs./docs.	2
1996 Aug 16 ±15 d. - Oct 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	1
1990 Dec 31 ±365 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1971 Jun 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	1?
1969 Jul 2 ±182 d. - 1970 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1968 Feb 3 - Mar 18	Historical obs./docs.	2
1967 Nov 2	Historical obs./docs.	2
1966 Jun 9 - Jun 30 or later	Historical obs./docs.	2
1964 Jul 8	Historical obs./docs.	2
1963 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1960 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1952 Jan 16 ±15 d. - Jun 16 ±15 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1938 Jan 19 - Mar 18	Historical obs./docs.	2
1937 Sep 8	Historical obs./docs.	2
1936 Aug 30	Historical obs./docs.	2
1936 Apr 29	Historical obs./docs.	2
1923 Sep	Historical obs./docs.	1
1921 May - Jun	Historical obs./docs.	2
1908 Oct - 1909	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

Kerinci Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Kerinci volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Kerinci occurred in 2024.

+How often does Kerinci volcano erupt?

Since 1838, Kerinci volcano has had at least 38 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 4.9 years.

+How active is Kerinci volcano at present?

Kerinci volcano is very active: Since 1900, it has had 37 eruptions, and been active during 37 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Kerinci has been in eruption one in 3.4 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 14 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Kerinci volcano?

The largest eruption of Kerinci volcano in historic times occurred in 2024. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Kerinci 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).