Babuyan Claro Volcano

Updated: Mar 18, 2025 14:32 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

North of Luzon (Philippines), 19.52°N / 121.94°E

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Summit height: 1080+ m / 3,543 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Babuyan Claro (Mt. Pangasun) is the largest and second youngest of 5 volcanoes that built up Babuyan Island, 100 km off the north coast of Luzon, Philippines. Babuyan Claro is an active stratovolcano of ca. 7 cubic km volume and has 2 summit craters of 300 and 400 m in diameter.
Smith volcano (Mt. Babuyan) 4 km to the NW of Babuyan Claro is the youngest volcano on the island and forms a beautiful 668 m high symmetrical basaltic-andesite cinder cone with ca. 3 cubic km volume.
Both Babuyan Claro and Smith volcanoes have apparently been active in historical time, although it is not always certain which volcano erupted. Eruptions at Babuyan Claro are typically strombolian and/or phreatomagmatic.
The Askedna Hot Spring is located at the southern base of Babuyan Claro.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Babuyan Claro volcano eruptions: 1917, 1913, 1860, 1831

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Background

The oldest volcanoes (Cayonan, Naydi, and Dionisio) started to form 1.7 million years ago and consist mainly of calc-alkaline andesitic and basaltic andesitic lava flows.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Babuyan Claro volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Babuyan Claro has had at least 7 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations.
Additionally, there are 2 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Babuyan Claro volcano.

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

Date	Note	VEI
1924	Smith volcano Historical obs./docs.	2
1919 May	Smith volcano Historical obs./docs.	2
1918 May 17 - May 19	Smith volcano Historical obs./docs.	2
1917	Smith volcano Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1913	Uncertain Eruption	2
1907	Smith volcano Historical obs./docs.	2
1860	Babuyan Claro Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1831	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	4?
1652 AD	Smith volcano Historical obs./docs.	3

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 Babuyan Claro volcano

1980 landslide
Hot mudflows were triggered by a landslide 600 m above sea level on the NW flank of Babuyan Claro volcano in early February 1980. The mudflows (lahars) damaged rice fields and roads, and forced the evacuation of nearby residents. (Source: GVP monthly reports)

Babuyan Claro Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Babuyan Claro volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Babuyan Claro occurred in 1924.

+How often does Babuyan Claro volcano erupt?

Since 1652 AD, Babuyan Claro volcano has had at least 7 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 53 years.

+How active is Babuyan Claro volcano at present?

Babuyan Claro volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 5 eruptions, and been active during 5 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Babuyan Claro has been in eruption one in 25.2 years on average. The last eruption was in 1924 and ended 101 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Babuyan Claro volcano?

The largest eruption of Babuyan Claro volcano in historic times occurred in 1652 AD. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Babuyan Claro 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).