Barren Island Volcano

Updated: Mar 25, 2025 11:54 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Indian Ocean, 12.28°N / 93.86°E

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Summit height: 354 m / 1,161 ft.

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 10 Apr 2024 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)

Eruption of Barren Island volcano in 1994

Barren Island, a possession of India in the Andaman Sea about 135 km NE of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, is the only historically active volcano along the N-S-trending volcanic arc extending between Sumatra and Burma (Myanmar). The 354-m-high island is the emergent summit of a volcano that rises from a depth of about 2250 m.

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Barren Island webcams / live data | News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: Explosive
Barren Island volcano eruptions: 1787, 1789, 1795, 1803-04, 1852(?), 1991, 1994-95, 2005-2006, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

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Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

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Background

The small, uninhabited 3-km-wide island contains a roughly 2-km-wide caldera with walls 250-350 m high. The caldera, which is open to the sea on the west, was created during a major explosive eruption in the late Pleistocene that produced pyroclastic-flow and -surge deposits. The morphology of a fresh pyroclastic cone that was constructed in the center of the caldera has varied during the course of historical eruptions. Lava flows fill much of the caldera floor and have reached the sea along the western coast during eruptions in the 19th century and more recently in 1991 and 1995.

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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution

Significant volcanic eruptions: Barren Island volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Barren Island has had at least 18 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 17 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 3 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Barren Island volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Barren Island volcano since around 9000 BC. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Barren Island can be found on the news page of Barren Island volcano.

Date	Note	VEI
2024 Mar 15 - May 29	Historical obs./docs.	?
2022 Dec 30 - 2023 Aug 18	Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 2022 May 15	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	?
2018 Sep 25 - 2022 Jan 30	Historical obs./docs.	1
2017 Jan 15 - Mar 24	Main cone, summit crater Historical obs./docs.	1
2015 Mar 17 - 2016 May 17 ±1 d.	Main cone Historical obs./docs.	?
2013 Oct 12 - 2014 Jun 1 ±15 d.	Main cone Historical obs./docs.	2
2013 Feb 16	Summit caldera Historical obs./docs.	2
2010 Sep 17 - 2011 Jun 22	Summit caldera and N flank Historical obs./docs.	1
2008 May 13 - 2010 Apr 19 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
2005 May 26 - 2007 Dec 23 ?	Central cone summit, N, S, and SW flanks Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 2000 Jan 16 ±15 d.	Uncertain Eruption	1?
1994 Dec 20 or before - 1995 Jun 5 ±8 d.	Central cone summit, SW & S flanks Historical obs./docs.	2
1991 Apr 1 - Oct 31 ±7 d.	Central cone summit and NE flank Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1852	Uncertain Eruption	2
1832 Mar	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1803 Nov - 1804 Jan 31 or later	Historical obs./docs.	2
1795 Dec 20 - Dec 21 or later	Historical obs./docs.	2
1789 Mar 24	Historical obs./docs.	2
1787 May 12	Historical obs./docs.	2
8060 ±100 y. BC		?

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

Barren Island Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Barren Island volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Barren Island occurred in 2024.

+How often does Barren Island volcano erupt?

Since 1787, Barren Island volcano has had at least 17 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 14 years.
Many eruptions of Barren Island have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 28 out of 238 years until now. In other words, Barren Island has been active at least one in 8.5 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Barren Island is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Barren Island volcano at present?

Barren Island volcano is relatively active: Since 1900, it has had 22 eruptions, and been active during 22 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Barren Island has been in eruption one in 5.7 years on average. The last eruption was in 2024 and ended 10 months ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Barren Island volcano?

The largest eruption of Barren Island volcano in historic times occurred during 2022 - 2023. It ranks as a strombolian to vulcanian eruption with a magnitude 2 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Barren Island 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).