Suwanose-jima Volcano

Updated: Aug 10, 2025 01:46 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Ryukyu Islands (Japan), 29.64°N / 129.72°E

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Summit height: 799 m/ 2,621 ft

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 6 Aug 2025 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Suwanose-jima (諏訪之瀬島) volcano is Japan's and one of the world's most active volcanoes. It has been in a state of near-continuous strombolian-type eruption since 1949.
The volcano forms the 8 km long spindle-shaped island of the same name in northern Ryuku Islands, Japan. The remote island is home to about 50 residents only.
Suwanose-jima consists of an andesitic stratovolcano with 2 historically active summit craters. Intermittent to continuous strombolian activity began from On-take (Otake), the NE summit crater, in 1949 and has been going on since. After 1996, occasional periods of inactivity have become more frequent.

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Suwanose-jima webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes | Volcano videos

Typical eruption style: explosive, strombolian
Suwanose-jima volcano eruptions: 2004 (Oct) - ongoing: intermittent strombolian-type activity
Since 1949: essentially continuous activity
2000 (Dec) - Jul 2004 (Jul): strombolian activity, 1999 (Jan-Feb, June), 1996 (Dec) - 1997 (Apr), 1949-96, 1940, 1938, 1934 (?), 1925, 1921-22, 1915 (?), 1914 (?), 1889, 1885, 1884, 1877, 1813-14 (sub-plinian Bunka eruption), around 1600 AD (large explosive eruption)

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Aug 10, 08:12 am (GMT +9)	2.1 0 km	7.1 km (4.4 mi) to the E	East China Sea, Kagoshima-ken, 7.1 km east of Suwanose-jima Island, Japan	Info
Aug 10, 07:34 am (GMT +9)	2.9 3 km	1.5 km (0.9 mi) to the NE	228 km south of Kagoshima, Kagoshima-ken, Japan I FELT IT	Info
Aug 10, 07:18 am (GMT +9)	3.1 0 km	9 km (5.6 mi) to the SE	Ryukyu Islands, Japan I FELT IT	Info
Aug 10, 06:47 am (GMT +9)	2.3 0 km	5.9 km (3.7 mi) to the E	Japan: Near Tokara Islands	Info
Aug 10, 06:41 am (GMT +9)	2.0 0 km	6.1 km (3.8 mi) to the E	Japan: Near Tokara Islands	Info
Aug 9, 08:04 pm (GMT +9)	2.1 13 km	14 km (8.8 mi) to the W	Japan: Near Tokara Islands	Info
Monday, August 4, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Aug 4, 05:41 pm (GMT +9)	2.5 13 km	26 km (16 mi) to the SW	Japan: Near Tokara Islands	Info
Friday, August 1, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Aug 2, 04:47 am (GMT +9)	2.8 148 km	20 km (12 mi) to the NE	Japan: Near Tokara Islands	Info
Monday, July 28, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Jul 29, 03:24 am (GMT +9)	2.5 10 km	19 km (12 mi) to the SW	Japan: Near Tokara Islands	Info

View recent quakes

Background

The summit of Suwanose-jima volcano is truncated by a large breached crater extending to the sea on the east flank that was formed by edifice collapse.

The largest historical eruption took place in 1813-14, when thick scoria deposits blanketed residential areas, and the SW crater produced 2 lava flows that reached the western coast. At the end of the eruption the summit of On-take collapsed forming a large debris avalanche and creating the horseshoe-shaped Sakuchi caldera, which extends to the eastern coast. The island remained uninhabited for about 70 years after the 1813-1814 eruption. Lava flows reached the eastern coast of the island in 1884.
(Source: Smithsonian / GVP information)

Significant volcanic eruptions: Suwanose-jima volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Suwanose-jima has had at least 24 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 23 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Suwanose-jima volcano.

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

Date	Note	VEI
2004 Oct 23 - ongoing	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
2000 Dec 19 - 2004 Jul 5 ?	O-take (Upper NE flank) Historical obs./docs.	3?
2000 Feb 24 ±4 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2?
1999 Jun 15 ±5 d. - Jun 30 ±4 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	1?
1999 Jan 5 ±5 d. - Feb 24 ±4 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	1?
1996 Dec 26 - 1997 Apr 17	O-take Historical obs./docs.	1
1990 Apr 16 ±15 d. - 1996 Jul 14	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
1988 Jan 16 ±15 d. - 1989 Dec 16 ±15 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
1985 Sep 16 ±15 d. - 1987 Jun 16 ±15 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
1984 Oct 16 ±15 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
1956 Nov 16 ±15 d. - 1984 May 16 ±15 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
1960 ?	Submarine E flank (Suwanose-jima Oki) Historical obs./docs.	0
1949 Oct - 1954 Jul 2 ±182 d.	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2
1954 ?	Submarine E flank (Suwanose-jima Oki) Historical obs./docs.	0
1940 Nov 29	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2?
1938 Mar 11	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1934 Jan 11	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1925 May 13	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2?
1921 Dec 8 - 1922 Jan 26	O-take Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1915 Jul - Sep	Uncertain Eruption	2?
?? 1914 Mar 21	Uncertain Eruption	?

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

Eruptions of Suwanose-jima volcano

1979-80 activity
A typical 2 year log of activity from Smithsonian's Monthy reports is presented here, illustrating the pulsating, but essentially persistant strombolian activity observed at Suwanose-jima volcano ...more info

Suwanose-jima Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Suwanose-jima volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Suwanose-jima began in 2004 and is continuing (as of August 2025).

+How often does Suwanose-jima volcano erupt?

Since 1813, Suwanose-jima volcano has had at least 23 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 9.2 years.
Many eruptions of Suwanose-jima have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 86 out of 212 years until now. In other words, Suwanose-jima has been active at least one in 2.5 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Suwanose-jima is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Suwanose-jima volcano at present?

Suwanose-jima volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been frequently active, showing eruptive activity during 80 years out of 126 as of now. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest eruption of Suwanose-jima volcano?

The largest eruption of Suwanose-jima volcano in historic times occurred in 1889. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Suwanose-jima 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).