Pelée Volcano

Updated: May 22, 2025 02:02 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

West Indies, France, 14.82°N / -61.17°W

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Summit height: 1397 m / 4,583 ft

Current status: restless (2 out of 5)

Last update: 22 Dec 2021 (weak seismic unrest)

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Pelée webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Images

Typical eruption style: unspecified
Pelée volcano eruptions: 1929-32

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
May 21, 01:34 am (Universal Time)	0.0 0.3 km	1.3 km (0.8 mi) to the SE	Near Fort-De-France	Info
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 20, 08:54 am (Universal Time)	0.9 31 km	5 km (3.1 mi) to the SE	21 km north of Fort-de-France, Martinique	Info
Monday, May 19, 2025 GMT (3 quakes)
May 19, 04:58 pm (Universal Time)	1.3 30 km	7.9 km (4.9 mi) to the SE	18 km north of Fort-de-France, Martinique	Info
May 19, 04:47 pm (Universal Time)	1.0 34 km	7.1 km (4.4 mi) to the SE	19 km north of Fort-de-France, Martinique	Info
May 19, 12:58 am (Universal Time)	1.2 15 km	24 km (15 mi) to the E	Caribbean Sea, 12 km northeast of Martinique Island, Martinique	Info
Friday, May 9, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 9, 12:27 am (Universal Time)	0.5 24 km	1.5 km (0.9 mi) to the S	near Fort-De-France	Info
Thursday, May 8, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
May 8, 04:26 am (Universal Time)	1.0 158 km	25 km (16 mi) to the E	Caribbean Sea, 14 km northeast of Martinique Island, Martinique	Info

View recent quakes

Background

Renowned Montagne Pelée, forming the northern end of the island of Martinique, is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc. Three major edifice failures since the late Pleistocene, the last about 9000 years ago, have left large horseshoe-shaped calderas breached to the SW inside which the modern volcano has been constructed. More than 20 major eruptions have occurred at Pelée during the past 5000 years. Extensive pyroclastic-flow deposits, incised by steep-walled ravines, mantle the slopes of the volcano. The l'Etang Sec summit crater is filled by two lava domes emplaced during the 1902 and 1929 eruptions. Historical eruptions date back to the 18th century; only two modest phreatic or phreatomagmatic eruptions took place prior to 1902. The catastrophic 1902 eruption, which destroyed the city of St. Pierre, the "Pearl of the Lesser Antilles," became the type-example of pelean eruptions and marked the onset of modern volcanological studies of the behavior of pyroclastic flows.
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Smithsonian / GVP volcano information

Pelée Volcano Photos

Mt Pelée volcano on Martinique Island (Photo: Richard Arculus)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Pelée volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Pelée has had at least 54 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 5 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Pelée volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Pelée can be found on the news page of Pelée volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
1929 Sep 16 - 1932 Dec 1 ±30 d.	Historical obs./docs.	3
1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5	Rivière Blanche and summit crater Historical obs./docs.	4
1902 Aug 30 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4	1,500		Info
1902 Aug 30: Around 21:00 local time, at least three great nuees ardentes were directed not only toward Saint-Pierre, but also down the northern and eastern flanks of the mountain. They partly destroyed Morne Rouge and Ajoupa Bouillon. These 1000 casualties added to the 8 May disaster that killed 28,000. (reference #2687) CAVW gives estimate of 1,000 but Heilprin reports that at Morne Rouge 1,200-1,500 died and that fatalities also occured in Ajoupa-Bouillon, Morne Capot, Moine Balar, and Bourden. (reference #9675) 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. #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.] #2687 Tanguy J C (1994): The 1902-1905 eruptions of Montagne Pelee, Martinique: anatomy and retrospection. J Volc Geotherm Res, 60: 87-107 #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
1902 Jul 10 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4			Info
1902 Jul 10: Reference #13721: […] two tsunamis resulting from violent eruptions of Mount Pelée, Martinique, during the 1902–1905 eruption. They are described in detail in Lacroix (1904), one occurring on the 6th of June and the other on the 9th of July 1902. In both cases, they were generated by pyroclastic density currents (PDC) reaching the western coast and were recorded in Fort-de-France as 5-min period oscillations of the sea, with more than 1- 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/). #13721 Clouard, V., von Hillebrandt-Andrade, McCreery, C., and Sostre Cortes, J.J. (2024): Implementation of tsunami warning procedures in the Caribbean in case of a volcano crisis: Use of a Volcano Notice for tsunami Threat (VONUT). Bulletin of Volcanology (2024) 86:18. DOI: 10.1007/s00445-023-01702-8 #13722 Lacroix, A. (1904): La Montagne Pelee et ses eruptions. Masson, Paris, p 662. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 Jun 6 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4			Info
1902 Jun 6: Reference #13721: […] two tsunamis resulting from violent eruptions of Mount Pelée, Martinique, during the 1902–1905 eruption. They are described in detail in Lacroix (1904), one occurring on the 6th of June and the other on the 9th of July 1902. In both cases, they were generated by pyroclastic density currents (PDC) reaching the western coast and were recorded in Fort-de-France as 5-min period oscillations of the sea, with more than 1-m amplitude. 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/). #13721 Clouard, V., von Hillebrandt-Andrade, McCreery, C., and Sostre Cortes, J.J. (2024): Implementation of tsunami warning procedures in the Caribbean in case of a volcano crisis: Use of a Volcano Notice for tsunami Threat (VONUT). Bulletin of Volcanology (2024) 86:18. DOI: 10.1007/s00445-023-01702-8 #13722 Lacroix, A. (1904): La Montagne Pelee et ses eruptions. Masson, Paris, p 662. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 May 20 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4		light	Info
1902 May 20: Continuing eruptions of Mount Pelee, caused disturbances of coastal waters. Cited references #537 Lander, James F., Lowell W. Whiteside, and Patricia A. Lockridge (2002): A Brief History of Tsunamis in the Caribbean Sea, Science of Tsunami Hazards, the International Journal of the Tsunami Society, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, vol. 20, no. 2, p. 57-94 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1902 May 8 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4	28,000		Info
1902 May 8: On May 8 at 8:02 local time pyroclastic flows destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre, 8 km south of the crater, and killed all its 27-28,000 inhabitants but one, or possibly two. (reference #2687) CAVW gives death toll as 28,000 but accounts published at the time give 30,000. More recent workers argue that normal population of 26,000 had been swollen by a few thousand refugees from outlying areas, despite the many evacuees. 28,000 is compromise figure. (reference #9675) 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. #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.] #2687 Tanguy J C (1994): The 1902-1905 eruptions of Montagne Pelee, Martinique: anatomy and retrospection. J Volc Geotherm Res, 60: 87-107 #2688 Chretien S, Brousse R (1989): Events preceeding the great eruption of 8 May, 1902 at Mount Pelee, Martinique. J Volc Geotherm Res, 38: 67-75 #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
1902 May 5 (eruption 1902 Apr 23 - 1905 Oct 5)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	4	23		Info
1902 May 5: Soon after midday a fast lahar descended the River Blanche. The lahar destroyed the Usine Guerin factory near the mouth of the River Blanche, killing 23 people. A small tsunami was triggered by the mudflow as it entered the sea, but the waters quickly became calm again. (reference #2687) Draining of crater lake upon failure of crater rim produced mudflows that destroyed a rum distillery, killing 23. (reference #9675) Cited references #1918 Pararas-Carayannis, George (2006): Risk assessment of tsunami generation from active volcanic sources in the eastern Caribbean region. Caribbean Tsunami Hazard, Proceedings of the NSF Caribbean Tsunami Workshop, March 30-31, 2004, Aurelio Mercado-Irizarry and Philip Liu, eds., World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, p. 91-137. #2687 Tanguy J C (1994): The 1902-1905 eruptions of Montagne Pelee, Martinique: anatomy and retrospection. J Volc Geotherm Res, 60: 87-107 #2688 Chretien S, Brousse R (1989): Events preceeding the great eruption of 8 May, 1902 at Mount Pelee, Martinique. J Volc Geotherm Res, 38: 67-75 #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
1851 Aug 5 - 1852 Feb 1 ±30 d.	Upper Rivière Claire valley (900 m elevation) Historical obs./docs.	2
1792 Jan 22 - Apr	Upper Rivière Claire valley Historical obs./docs.	1
1635 or before AD	Historical obs./docs.	?
1460 ±20 y. AD		?
1370 ? AD		?
1340 ±50 y. AD		4
1260 ±20 y. AD		?
1190 ? AD		?
910 ? AD		?
890 ±100 y. AD		4P
720 ? AD		?
650 ? AD		?
450 ? AD		4P
350 ±75 y. AD		4
300 ? AD		4P
220 ±75 y. AD		?
130 ? AD		4P
50 ? AD		4P
10 ±50 y. AD		4

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

Pelée Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Pelée volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Pelée occurred during 1929 - 1932.

+How often does Pelée volcano erupt?

Since 1635 AD, Pelée volcano has had at least 5 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 78 years.
Many eruptions of Pelée have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 12 out of 390 years until now. In other words, Pelée has been active at least one in 32.5 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Pelée is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Pelée volcano at present?

Pelée volcano is infrequently active: Since 1900, it has had 8 eruptions, and been active during 8 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Pelée has been in eruption one in 15.8 years on average. The last eruption was from 1929 until 1932 and ended 92 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Pelée volcano?

The largest eruption of Pelée volcano in historic times occurred during 1902 - 1905. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

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Latest satellite images

Pelée 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).