Volcanoes of Tanzania (23)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Tanzania

In historic times, at least 3 volcanoes have been active in Tanzania, including Ol Doinyo Lengai, Meru, and Kyejo volcanoes. A total of 26 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since 1800.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Tanzania since 1900.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Damage
2017 Apr 9 - ongoing	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	0	Tanzania
2016 Sep 21 or before - Oct 13 or later	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	0	Tanzania
2015 Jun 20 or before - Aug 24 or later	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	0	Tanzania
2011 or before - 2014 Jul 15 ±10 d.	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	0	Tanzania
2007 Jun 16 ±15 d. - 2010 Oct 9 ±1 d.	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	3	Tanzania
1994 Sep 18 - 2006 Jul 16 ±15 d.	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	1	Tanzania
1983 Jan 1 - 1993 Sep 24	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	2	Tanzania
1967 Jul 8 - Sep 4	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	3	Tanzania
1967 Jul 8 (eruption 1967 Jul 8 - Sep 4)	Ol Doinyo Lengai	3	Tanzania	light	Info
1967 Jul 8: Ash fell at the Arusha airport, 110 km to the south east and Wilson airport, Nairobi, 190 km to the north east, and at both airports the corrosive dust damaged aluminum aircraft. 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/). #4081 Dawson, J.B., J. Keller, and C. Nyamweru (eds.) (1995): Carbonatite Volcanism: Oldoinyo Lengai and the petrogenesis of natrocarbonatites. IAVCEI Proceedings in Volcanology 4. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1960 Mar 16 ±15 d. - 1966 Nov 28 ±30 d.	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	3	Tanzania
1966 Aug 14 (eruption 1960 Mar 16 ±15 d. - 1966 Nov 28 ±30 d.)	Ol Doinyo Lengai	4	Tanzania	light	Info
1966 Aug 14: Caused some damage to land and property. 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
1958 Feb 6 or before	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	1	Tanzania
1955 Jan 19 - Jan 20	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	2	Tanzania
1954 Jul 26 ±5 d. - Sep 16 ±15 d.	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	2	Tanzania
1940 Jul 24 - 1941 Feb	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	3	Tanzania
1940 Jul 24 (eruption 1940 Jul 24 - 1941 Feb)	Ol Doinyo Lengai	2	Tanzania	light	Info
1940 Jul 24: Caused some damage to land and property. 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
1926	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	2	Tanzania
1921 Feb	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	2	Tanzania
1916 Dec 1 ±30 d. - 1917 Jun	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	3	Tanzania
1917 Jan 1 (eruption 1916 Dec 1 ±30 d. - 1917 Jun)	Ol Doinyo Lengai	3	Tanzania	light	Info
1917 Jan 1: The volcano erupted violently in January 1917. Ash fall from the eruption killed of formerly luxuriant vegetation on the slopes of the mountain, it has not recovered fully to the present day. 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/). #4081 Dawson, J.B., J. Keller, and C. Nyamweru (eds.) (1995): Carbonatite Volcanism: Oldoinyo Lengai and the petrogenesis of natrocarbonatites. IAVCEI Proceedings in Volcanology 4. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1914 Aug 15 ±270 d. - 1915	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	?	Tanzania
1913	Ol Doinyo Lengai	?	Tanzania
1910 Oct 26 - Dec 22	Meru Ash Cone	2	Tanzania
1907 ±3 y. - 1910 Aug 4 or later	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	?	Tanzania
1904	Ol Doinyo Lengai North Crater	?	Tanzania

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

Tanzania FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Tanzania?

The last volcanic eruption in Tanzania was from Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. It began in 2017 and is continuing (as of May 2025).

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Tanzania?

The first historically documented eruption occurred 1800 from Kyejo volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Tanzania erupt?

Since 1800, Tanzania has seen at least 26 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 8.7 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Tanzania?

Tanzania is volcanically very active: Since 1900, at least 2 volcanoes in Tanzania have been active.Since 1900, Tanzania has had 21 volcanic eruptions from 2 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 68 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Tanzania has been in eruption in one in 1.9 years on average. The latest eruption from Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano volcano is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Tanzania?

The largest eruption in Tanzania in historic times was from Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. It occurred during 2007 - 2010. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest earthquakes: Tanzania

There was one earthquake of magnitude 4.7 in or near Tanzania in the past 7 days.

A Magnitude earthquake occurred in .

Magnitude Earthquake -

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
May 16, 03:53 am (Dar es Salaam)	4.7 10 km	6 km (3.7 mi) NE of Izumbwe-Mpoli	3.5 km northwest of Mbeya, Mbeya Region, Tanzania I FELT IT - 5 reports	Info

See Recent Quakes

Significant Earthquakes in Tanzania since 1900

The deadliest earthquake in Tanzania since 1900 was the magnitude 5.9 earthquake in

Tanzania, Kagera Region on Sep, 10, 2016. It resulted in 23 fatalities and 252 injured people. This was the most disastrous quake in Tanzania ever recorded. This was also the most damaging earthquake that occurred in this time: total economic losses were estimated to the equivalent of $458 million US Dollars. More than 1,170 houses and other buildings were destroyed and more than 6,280 damaged.

Date	Mag	Region	Deaths	Damage
2019 Mar 21	5.5	Songwe, Mbeya	1	light	Info
2017 May 25	4.4	Mwanza	1	probably none	Info
2016 Sep 10	5.9	Lake Victoria; Uganda Rakai	23	very heavy	Info
2005 Dec 5	6.8	Congo: Kalemie	6	light	Info
2002 May 18	5.5	Bunda	2	moderate	Info
2000 Oct 2	6.5	Nkansi, Rukwa	0	light	Info
1964 May 7	6.0	Tanzania	1	heavy	Info
1919 Jul 8	7.0	Rukwa	0	heavy	Info
1910 Dec 13	7.3	Rukwa	0	moderate	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 Tanzania FAQ

+Which was the deadliest earthquake in Tanzania since 1900?

The deadliest earthquake in Tanzania since 1900 was the magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Tanzania, Kagera Region on Sep, 10, 2016. It resulted in 23 fatalities and 252 injured people. This was the most disastrous quake in Tanzania ever recorded.

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

Since 1900, at least 6 earthquakes claimed an estimated total of 34 fatalities in Tanzania.

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

There were 8 damaging or deadly quakes during this period that caused economic losses of approx. $521 million US Dollars combined.

Volcano List

Burko

(Stratovolcano 2136 m / 7008 ft)

[more info]

Embagai

(Caldera 3220 m / 10564 ft)

Embagai (also spelled Empakai) is an extinct volcano in the Tanzanian Rift valley near the famous Ngorongoro crater.
Its caldera is surrounded by steep, forested cliffs approx. 300 m high and contains a beautiful crater lake home to thousands of flamingos and other birds. [more info]

Gelai

(Shield 2942 m / 9652 ft)

[more info]

Hanang

(Stratovolcano 3418 m / 11214 ft)

[more info]

Igwisi Hills

(Tuff cones unknown summit elevation)

[more info]

Izumbwe-Mpoli

(Pyroclastic cones 1568 m / 5,144 ft)

[more info]

Katete

(Stratovolcano 2481 m / 8140 ft)

[more info]

Kerimasi

(Stratovolcano 2600 m / 8530 ft)

[more info]

Ketumbeine

(Shield 2942 m / 9652 ft)

[more info]

Kilimanjaro

(Stratovolcano 5895 m (19,340 ft))

Massive Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, consists of three large stratovolcanoes constructed along a NW-SE trend. [more info]

Kwaraha

(Stratovolcano 2415 m / 7923 ft)

[more info]

Kyejo

(Stratovolcano 2175 m / 7,136 ft)

[more info]

Loolmalasin

(Unknown 3627 m / 11900 ft)

[more info]

Meru

(Stratovolcano 4565 m / 14,977 ft)

[more info]

Ngorongoro

(Caldera 2376 m / 7795 ft)

[more info]

Ngozi

(Caldera 2622 m / 8,602 ft)

[more info]

Ol Doinyo Lengai

(Stratovolcano 2890 m )

Erupting hornito at Lengai volcano

Ol Doinyo Lengai, a symmetrical, steep classical stratovolcano rises majestically about 2000m from the East Africal Rift Valley depression to a summit elevation of 2890 m. To the Maassai people, it is home of God, which is also the meaning of the name. Ol Doinyo Lengai is the onl... [more info]

Olmoti

(Caldera 3099 m / 10167 ft)

[more info]

Rungwe

(Stratovolcano 2956 m / 9,698 ft)

[more info]

Sadiman

(Stratovolcano 2865 m / 9400 ft)

[more info]

SW Usangu Basin

(Lava domes 2179 m / 7,149 ft)

[more info]

Tukuyu

(Shield 1541 m / 5056 ft)

[more info]

Usangu Scarp Basalt

(Pyroclastic cone 1690 m / 5545 ft)

[more info]

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News

Thu, 7 Dec 2017, 12:12

Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano (Tanzania): active crater and natrocarbonatite lava in early Dec 2017

The volcano continues to slowly erupt natrocarbonatite lava inside the deep pit crater of the 2007-08 cinder cone which occupies the active northern crater of Lengai volcano. We present a selection of aerial photos taken a few days ago by our friend Gian Schachenmann. ... Read all

Mon, 21 Sep 2015, 18:17

Meru volcano (Tanzania): false eruption report - plume caused by forest fire

The volcano is NOT erupting. The reported eruption turned out to be a false report - what seemed to be an ash plume was in fact caused by a huge forest fire on the slopes of Meru. ... Read all