# Volcano Eruption Today: Erupting Volcanoes Now

Updated 11:07 UTC, 29 Oct 2026. Canonical: https://monitorworld.app/live/volcano-eruption-today

The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists **38 volcanoes in continuing eruption** worldwide; the most recent to start were Home Reef (Tonga, 2025-12-17), Ambae (Vanuatu, 2025-11-24), Purace (Colombia, 2025-11-23). In the United States, USGS lists **4 volcanoes at an elevated alert level**, the highest being Great Sitkin at WATCH / ORANGE (checked 11:07 UTC).

## Key numbers

- Continuing eruptions (Smithsonian GVP): **38**
- US volcanoes at elevated alert: **4** (of 69 monitored by USGS)
- Highest US alert now: **WATCH** (Great Sitkin, ORANGE)
- Yellowstone alert level: **NORMAL** (GREEN)

## US volcano alerts now (USGS)

- [WATCH] [Great Sitkin: Slow eruption of lava within the summit crater continues.](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-10-28T18:58:00+00:00) (Alaska Volcano Observatory, WATCH / ORANGE, notice 2026-10-28)
- [ADVISORY] [Shishaldin: advisory level](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-AVO-2026-10-28T18:58:00+00:00) (Alaska Volcano Observatory, ADVISORY / YELLOW, notice 2026-10-28)
- [ADVISORY] [Kilauea: The Halema'uma'u eruption of Kīlauea remains paused following episode 55 on October 17. The forecast for episode 56 fountaining has been pushed to Nov. 1-7, 2026.](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-HVO-2026-10-28T18:37:41+00:00) (Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, ADVISORY / YELLOW, notice 2026-10-28)
- [ADVISORY] [Ahyi Seamount: advisory level](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/notice/DOI-USGS-NMI-2026-10-22T23:13:02+00:00) (Northern Mariana Islands, ADVISORY / YELLOW, notice 2026-10-22)

## Volcanoes in continuing eruption (Smithsonian GVP)

- [VEI 0] [Home Reef, Tonga](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=243080) (erupting since 2025-12-17, max VEI 0, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Ambae, Vanuatu](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=257030) (erupting since 2025-11-24, max VEI 2, Shield)
- [VEI 2] [Purace, Colombia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=351060) (erupting since 2025-11-23, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano(es))
- [VEI 3] [Sabancaya, Peru](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=354006) (erupting since 2025-09-13, max VEI 3, Stratovolcano(es))
- [VEI 3] [Krasheninnikov, Russia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=300190) (erupting since 2025-08-02, max VEI 3, Caldera)
- [VEI 2] [Lewotolok, Indonesia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=264230) (erupting since 2025-01-16, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Poas, Costa Rica](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345040) (erupting since 2025-01-05, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 1] [Kilauea, United States](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=332010) (erupting since 2024-12-23, max VEI 1, Shield)
- [VEI 3] [Kanlaon, Philippines](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=272020) (erupting since 2024-10-19, max VEI 3, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Taal, Philippines](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=273070) (erupting since 2024-04-12, max VEI 2, Caldera)
- [VEI 2] [Marapi, Indonesia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=261140) (erupting since 2023-12-03, max VEI 2, Complex)
- [VEI 2] [Great Sitkin, United States](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=311120) (erupting since 2021-05-25, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 1] [Merapi, Indonesia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=263250) (erupting since 2020-12-31, max VEI 1, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Sangay, Ecuador](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=352090) (erupting since 2019-03-26, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 4] [Semeru, Indonesia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=263300) (erupting since 2019-02-24, max VEI 4, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 4] [Manam, Papua New Guinea](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=251020) (erupting since 2018-06-10, max VEI 4, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 0] [Nyamulagira, DR Congo](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=223020) (erupting since 2018-04-14, max VEI 0, Shield)
- [VEI 0] [Lengai, Ol Doinyo, Tanzania](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=222120) (erupting since 2017-04-09, max VEI 0, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Aira, Japan](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=282080) (erupting since 2017-03-25, max VEI 2, Caldera)
- [VEI 2] [Langila, Papua New Guinea](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=252010) (erupting since 2015-10-22, max VEI 2, Complex)
- [VEI 1] [Masaya, Nicaragua](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=344100) (erupting since 2015-10-03, max VEI 1, Caldera)
- [VEI 0] [Tofua, Tonga](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=243060) (erupting since 2015-10-02, max VEI 0, Caldera)
- [VEI 2] [Ruiz, Nevado del, Colombia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=351020) (erupting since 2014-11-18, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 1] [Saunders, United Kingdom](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=390090) (erupting since 2014-11-12, max VEI 1, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 0] [Heard, Australia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=234010) (erupting since 2012-09-05, max VEI 0, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Reventador, Ecuador](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=352010) (erupting since 2008-07-27, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Ibu, Indonesia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=268030) (erupting since 2008-04-05, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Popocatepetl, Mexico](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=341090) (erupting since 2005-01-09, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano(es))
- [VEI 2] [Suwanosejima, Japan](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=282030) (erupting since 2004-10-23, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano(es))
- [VEI 2] [Nyiragongo, DR Congo](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=223030) (erupting since 2002-05-17, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 3] [Fuego, Guatemala](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=342090) (erupting since 2002-01-04, max VEI 3, Stratovolcano(es))
- [VEI 2] [Bagana, Papua New Guinea](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=255020) (erupting since 2000-02-28, max VEI 2, Lava cone)
- [VEI 4] [Sheveluch, Russia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=300270) (erupting since 1999-08-15, max VEI 4, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Erebus, Antarctica](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=390020) (erupting since 1972-12-16, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 2] [Stromboli, Italy](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=211040) (erupting since 1934-02-02, max VEI 2, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 3] [Dukono, Indonesia](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=268010) (erupting since 1933-08-13, max VEI 3, Complex)
- [VEI 3] [Santa Maria, Guatemala](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=342030) (erupting since 1922-06-22, max VEI 3, Stratovolcano)
- [VEI 3] [Yasur, Vanuatu](https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=257100) (erupting since unknown, max VEI 3, Stratovolcano)

## Key context

### US volcano alert levels

| Level | Colour (aviation) | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NORMAL | GREEN | Typical background activity. |
| ADVISORY | YELLOW | Elevated unrest above background. |
| WATCH | ORANGE | Heightened unrest, or a minor eruption with limited hazards. |
| WARNING | RED | A hazardous eruption is under way or expected soon. |

### Earthquakes near erupting volcanoes this week

Quakes under a volcano can track magma moving, but they are common at active volcanoes and are not a forecast by themselves. These are the M2.5+ quakes USGS listed within 30 km of a volcano on this page in the past 7 days:

| Volcano | Quakes (M2.5+) | Largest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kilauea | 1 | M2.6 |

### The longest-running eruptions

Many "eruptions today" have been going on for decades. The longest in the Smithsonian list are Santa Maria in Guatemala (since 1922), Dukono in Indonesia (since 1933), Stromboli in Italy (since 1934), Erebus in Antarctica (since 1972), Sheveluch in Russia (since 1999). Most of them produce small explosions, gas and lava, not large blasts.

### What VEI means

The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) runs from 0 to 8. Each step up means roughly ten times more erupted material. VEI 0-1 are gentle lava eruptions like Kilauea's; VEI 2-3 are explosive eruptions that disrupt flights nearby; VEI 6 was Pinatubo in 1991. The VEI here is the largest so far in each continuing eruption, as assessed by the Smithsonian.

### Ash and air travel

Volcanic ash can stop jet engines, so nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs) around the world track ash clouds and advise airlines. If your flight passes near an erupting volcano, check your airline's notices; airports near large eruptions can close for hours or days.

### Staying safe near a volcano

Follow your local civil protection or volcano observatory: they set exclusion zones and evacuation orders. Stay out of closed areas, keep away from river valleys that can carry mudflows (lahars), and wear a well-fitting mask during ashfall. Never rely on this page for safety decisions.

## FAQ

### Is a volcano erupting right now?

Yes: on any given day several dozen volcanoes are erupting. The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 38 continuing eruptions, many of them long-running and small, such as Santa Maria (since 1922), Dukono (since 1933), Stromboli (since 1934). New eruptions can take days or weeks to enter that list; national observatories report them first.

### Is Kilauea erupting?

USGS lists Kilauea at ADVISORY / YELLOW (2026-10-28). The latest USGS summary: "The Halema'uma'u eruption of Kīlauea remains paused following episode 55 on October 17. The forecast for episode 56 fountaining has been pushed to Nov. 1-7, 2026.". Check the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory for the current status.

### Is Yellowstone going to erupt?

There is no sign of that. USGS lists Yellowstone at NORMAL / GREEN. The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory says the chance of a large eruption in any given year is extremely small, and that hydrothermal explosions and earthquakes are the more likely hazards. No one can predict an eruption date.

### What do the US volcano alert levels mean?

NORMAL means background activity. ADVISORY means elevated unrest above background. WATCH means heightened unrest with more chance of eruption, or a minor eruption under way. WARNING means a hazardous eruption is under way or expected soon. The aviation colour code (GREEN, YELLOW, ORANGE, RED) gives the same steps for ash and flights.

### What was the biggest volcanic eruption?

In recorded history, Tambora in Indonesia in 1815 (VEI 7) was the largest; it caused the "year without a summer" in 1816. The largest of the past century was Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 (VEI 6). The January 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption sent the highest volcanic plume ever measured, about 57 km high.

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## Sources

- [USGS Volcano Hazards Program (HANS)](https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hans-public/): official US volcano alert levels, aviation colour codes and notices. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.
- [Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program](https://volcano.si.edu/): Volcanoes of the World database: continuing eruptions, start dates and VEI. Cited as Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. New eruptions can take time to appear.
- [USGS Earthquake Hazards Program](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/): real-time GeoJSON feeds, public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.

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