Colima Volcano
Updated: Mar 24, 2025 00:05 GMT -
Stratovolcano
Western Mexico, 19.51°N / -103.62°W 
Summit height: 3850 m / 12,631 ft
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 18 Oct 2023 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report)
Strong explosion at Colima volcano in Feb 2015
Colima volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in North America and one of the potentially most dangerous ones. It has had more than 30 periods of eruptions since 1585, including several significant eruptions in the late 1990s. Scientific monitoring of the volcano began 20 years ago.
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Colima volcano eruptions: 1519, 1560, 1576, 1585, 1590, 1602(?), 1606, 1611-1613, 1622, 1690, 1711, 1743(?), 1744, 1749(?),1769, 1770, 1771, 1780, 1794, 1795, 1804, 1806-1809, 1818, 1819, 1866, 1869, 1870-71, 1872-73, 1874, 1875-78, 1879-80, 1880-81, 1882-84, 1885-1886, 1887, 1889-90, 1890, 1891-92, 1893-1902, 1903, 1904-1906, 1908-09, 1913, 1926-1931(?), 1941(?), 1957-1960, 1961-62, 1963-70, 1973(?), 1975-76, 1977-1982, 1983(?), 1985-86, 1987, 1988(?), 1991, 1994, 1997-2011, 2013-ongoing
Latest nearby earthquakes
| Date and Time | Mag / Depth | Distance / Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 11:52 am (GMT -6) | 2.8 32 km | 28 km (18 mi) to the W | Mexico: 28 km Al NOROESTE De VILLA DE ALVAREZ, COL | Info | |
| Monday, March 17, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Mar 17, 03:26 pm (GMT -6) | 3.1 30 km | 21 km (13 mi) to the SW | Jalisco, 21 km north of Colima, Colima, Mexico I FELT IT | Info | |
| Sunday, March 16, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Mar 16, 02:03 pm (Mexico City) | 3.5 24 km | 26 km (16 mi) to the W | Jalisco, Mexico | Info | |
| Thursday, March 13, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Mar 13, 12:00 pm (Universal Time) | 3? 87 km | 29 km (18 mi) to the SW | Jalisco, Mexico (unconfirmed) | Info | |
| Tuesday, March 11, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Mar 11, 06:19 pm (Universal Time) | 2? 18 km | 24 km (15 mi) to the W | Jalisco, 30 km northwest of Colima, Colima, Mexico (unconfirmed) | Info | |
| Monday, March 10, 2025 GMT (1 quake) | |||||
| Mar 10, 03:04 pm (Universal Time) | 3? 31 km | 29 km (18 mi) to the SW | Jalisco, Mexico (unconfirmed) | Info | |
Background
The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent volcanic center of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4320 m high point of the complex) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically active Volcán de Colima at the south.A group of cinder cones of probable late-Pleistocene age is located on the floor of the Colima graben west and east of the Colima complex. Volcán de Colima (also known as Volcán Fuego) is a youthful stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the south, that has been the source of large debris avalanches. Major slope failures have occurred repeatedly from both the Nevado and Colima cones, and have produced a thick apron of debris-avalanche deposits on three sides of the complex. Frequent historical eruptions date back to the 16th century. Occasional major explosive eruptions (most recently in 1913) have destroyed the summit and left a deep, steep-sided crater that was slowly refilled and then overtopped by lava dome growth.
Colima Volcano Photos
Strong vulcanian eruption at Colima volcano with volcanic lightning (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Steaming Colima volcano in Mexico with an active lava flow, mirrored in a small lake. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Night-time view of Colima volcano with an active lava flow (July 2015). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Vulcanian eruption at Colima volcano with lightning on 26 Jan 2017 (Photo: Hernando Rivera)
Significant volcanic eruptions: Colima volcano
In the past 10,000 years, Colima has had at least 79 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 53 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 7 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Colima volcano.
Additionally, there are 7 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Colima volcano.
The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Colima volcano since around 1900. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Colima can be found on the news page of Colima volcano.
| Date | Note | VEI | Deaths | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
| Summit crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
| 1994 crater Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
| West of 1987 explosion crater Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 2? | |||
| East side of summit lava dome Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1? | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 1 | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1 | ||||
?? | Uncertain Eruption | 3? | |||
Historical obs./docs. | 1? | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 4 | ||||
| 1913 Jan 20 (eruption | Historical obs./docs. | 4 | 13 | Info | |
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 1? | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 3 | ||||
Historical obs./docs. | 2 | ||||
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
Colima Volcano FAQ
+When was the last eruption of Colima volcano?
The last confirmed eruption of Colima occurred in 2019.
+How often does Colima volcano erupt?
Since 1519 AD, Colima volcano has had at least 53 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 9.5 years.
Many eruptions of Colima have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 125 out of 506 years until now. In other words, Colima has been active at least one in 4 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Colima is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.
+How active is Colima volcano at present?
Colima volcano is extremely active: Since 1900, it has been frequently active, showing eruptive activity during 64 years out of 126 as of now. The last eruption was in 2019 and ended 6 years ago.
+When was the largest eruption of Colima volcano?
The largest eruption of Colima volcano in historic times occurred in 1913. It ranks as a sub-plinian eruption with a magnitude 4 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.
Latest satellite images
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Colima 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).
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (world scale)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (world scale)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (region scale large)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (region scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (region scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (region scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (region scale small)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (region scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (local scale large)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (local scale large)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (local scale medium)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (local scale medium)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (local scale small)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (local scale small)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (scale of 10s of km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (scale of 20-40 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Terrain-type map of Colima volcano (scale of approx. 10-20 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (scale of 5-10 km)
Satellite/aerial-type map of Colima volcano (scale of few kilometers)
