Volcanoes of Mexico (150)

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Mexico's volcanoes are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and formed on the North American continental tectonic plate under which the oceanic Pacific and (in the south) Cocos plates are being subducted.
The most active volcanoes of the country are Popocatepetl, Colima and El Chichon, which had a major eruption in 1982 that cooled the world's climate in the following year.
All active volcanoes of Mexico are listed.

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Baja California, NW Mexico & Mexican Islands (22 volcanoes)

Southern Mexico (6 volcanoes)

Western & Central Mexico (46 volcanoes)

Significant volcanic eruptions: Mexico

In historic times, at least 9 volcanoes have been active in Mexico, including Colima, Popocatépetl, and Socorro volcanoes. A total of 103 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1345 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Mexico since 1900.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Deaths	Damage
2005 Jan 9 - ongoing	Popocatépetl	2	Central Mexico
2022 Jun 22 (eruption 2005 Jan 9 - ongoing)	Popocatépetl	2	Central Mexico	1		Info
2022 Jun 22: A hiker died as a result of the eruption after being hit by volcanic rock. Another hiker was seriously injured with a broken femur and broken ribs by a tool that had punctured his body following a fall. Both individuals were hiking without permission in a restricted area that was off limits to the public. (reference #13262) Popocatepetl is an active and very dangerous volcano. Access to the volcano has been closed to the public since 1994 and its activity is constantly monitored to keep the population informed and alert if necessary. A 12 km exclusion radius is intended to preserve people's lives, moving them away from the area where it has been proven that the activity can be lethal. (reference #13261) Cited references #13261 Centro Nacional de Prevencion de Desastres (Mexico) (2022): El Popocatepetl es un volcán activo, no arriesgues tuvida intentando subir. Published 23 June 2022. Link #13262 Mexico News Daily (2022): Climber killed while in restricted area on volcano El Popo: A second climber was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Published 24 June 2022. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2019 May 11 - Jul 12	Colima	1	Western Mexico
2013 Jan 6 - 2017 Mar 7	Colima Summit crater	3	Western Mexico
1997 Nov 22 - 2011 Jun 21	Colima 1994 crater	3	Western Mexico
2004 May 26	Popocatépetl	2	Central Mexico
1996 Mar 5 - 2003 Nov 22 ?	Popocatépetl	3	Central Mexico
1996 Apr 30 (eruption 1996 Mar 5 - 2003 Nov 22 ?)	Popocatépetl	3	Central Mexico	5	light	Info
1996 Apr 30: Lava Volume: > 2.8 x 10⁷ m³. Eruptive Characteristics: Central vent eruption, Explosive eruption, Pyroclastic flow(s), Lava flow(s), Lava dome extrusion, Fatalities, Damage (land, property, etc.), Mudflow(s) (lahars), Evacuation. On 30 April [1996] at 1319 a major explosion from the dome dispersed ejecta to the NE. Maximum clast diameter was 0.5 cm in the village of Xalitzintla, ~12 km NE, and sand-sized ash fell in Tlaxcala, 60 km away... Five climbers who ascended the volcano in the early morning hours of 30 April were killed by the explosion later that day. On 2 May the climbers were found a few hundred meters below the NE crater rim. Their corpses, recovered by Civil Protection authorities, exhibited 3rd-degree burns and severe injuries caused by contusions. Climbing the volcano has been officially prohibited since the current eruption began, and signs were posted at Paso de Cortes. During a helicopter flight on 3 May a depression was observed on the surface of the new dome near the SE inner wall of the main crater. Streaks of gravel and boulders running down the NE outer slopes of the volcano were 10-20-m wide and a few hundred meters long, and very close to the route of ascent taken by most climbers. (above from reference #2432) 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
1994 Dec 21 - 1995 Oct 5	Popocatépetl	2	Central Mexico
1994 Jul 21	Colima West of 1987 explosion crater	1	Western Mexico
1993 Jan 29 - 1994 Feb 24 ±4 d.	Socorro Submarine vent 3 km W of Punta Tosca	0	Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
1991 Mar 1 - Oct 16 ±15 d.	Colima	2	Western Mexico
1987 Jul 2	Colima East side of summit lava dome	1	Western Mexico
1985 Jul 2 ±182 d. - 1986 Jan 5 ±4 d.	Colima	1	Western Mexico
1982 Mar 28 - Sep 11	El Chichón	5	Southern Mexico
1977 Dec 16 ±15 d. - 1982 Jun 16 ±15 d.	Colima	1	Western Mexico
1982 May 27 (eruption 1982 Mar 28 - Sep 11)	El Chichón	5	Southern Mexico	1		Info
1982 May 27: Failure of pumice dam from pyroclastic flow caused rapid drainage of lake at Francisco Leon. One worker at hydroelectric plant downstream killed. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1982 Apr 4 (eruption 1982 Mar 28 - Sep 11)	El Chichón	5	Southern Mexico	33		Info
1982 Apr 4: 32 soldiers and 1 geologist killed by pryoclastic flow that overran Francisco Leon, 5 km SW of summit. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #11563 McGraw, Marie C., Elizabeth A. Barnes, Clara Deser (2016): Reconciling the observed and modeled Southern Hemisphere circulation response to volcanic eruptions. Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 43, no. 13, p. 7259-7266. DOI:10.1002/2016GL069835 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1982 Mar 29 (eruption 1982 Mar 28 - Sep 11)	El Chichón	5	Southern Mexico	1,879	moderate	Info
1982 Mar 29: 1,755 missing and 124 dead mostly in pyroclastic flows. Other estimates range up to 2,000. Two caretakers at dam construction killed by lahar, 11 killed when dam created by pyroclastic flow broke. Government sources list 187 fatalities (including 4/04), but do not include missing persons. Most of casualties on N side were due to fires started by incandescent tephra and building collapse due to earthquakes. Reference #1250 $3.3 million damage. Cited references #1250 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) (2001): EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium, link #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #1669 Smithsonian Institution (1975-1989): Smithsonian Institution-SEAN, 1975-89. [Monthly event reports]. Bull Scientific Event Alert Network (SEAN), v 1-14 #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1975 Dec 11 ? - 1976 Jun 20	Colima	2	Western Mexico
1963 Jul 2 ±182 d. - 1970 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Colima	1	Western Mexico
1961 Jul 2 ±182 d. - 1962 Dec 1 ±30 d.	Colima	1	Western Mexico
1957 May 14 - 1960 Jul 2 ±182 d.	Colima	1	Western Mexico
1952 Aug 1 - 1953 Feb 24 ±4 d.	Bárcena South end of Isla San Benedicto	3	Mexican Islands (Mexico)
1943 Feb 20 - 1952 Feb 25	Michoacán-Guanajuato Parícutin	4	West-Central Mexico
1951 May 22	Socorro SW flank (west of Lomas Coloradas)	2?	Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico
1947 Jan - Feb	Popocatépetl	1	Central Mexico
1943 Feb 20 (eruption 1943 Feb 20 - 1952 Feb 25)	Michoacán-Guanajuato	4	West-Central Mexico	103		Info
1943 Feb 20: Lightning associated with eruptive activity. Indirect deaths included killings of refugees by new neighbors, murders in land disputes after the eruption, and deaths in the refugee communities from disease and lack of will to live. (reference #9675) Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1942 - 1943	Popocatépetl	1	Central Mexico
1933 Jan 23	Popocatépetl	1	Central Mexico
1926 ±4 y. - 1931 ?	Colima	1?	Western Mexico
1925 - 1927 ?	Popocatépetl	2	Central Mexico
1923 Nov 27 - 1924 Mar 7	Popocatépetl	1	Central Mexico
1919 Feb 19 ? - 1922	Popocatépetl	1	Central Mexico
1919 Feb 19 (eruption 1919 Feb 19 ? - 1922)	Popocatépetl	1	Central Mexico	50-100 (*)		Info
1919 Feb 19: Start Date: 1919 Feb 19 (?), Stop Date: 1922. Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI): 1. Eruptive Characteristics: Central vent eruption, Explosive eruption, Phreatic explosion(s), Lava dome extrusion, Fatalities. (reference #2432) 1919 Feb 19. Some fatalities. (reference #9675) "An 1857 publication outlined additional details and included a yellow, crusty map that demonstrated the preferred route to the mountaintop, allowing climbers to navigate around dangerous ice crevices and deep volcanic sands. Other sources detailed the expansion of mining operations during the Porfirio Díaz presidency, which included the construction of additional railroads and depots for transport to Veracruz, where sulphur from Popocatépetl was shipped to markets around the world... Shoeboxes of mildewed materials in the municipal archives contained records dating to the late nineteenth century and included several references to different sulphur mining operations. However, one example stood out in the historical records and oral histories of the townspeople. As recounted by official and informal documents, in 1919 a fledgling sulphur mining operation planted dynamite in crevices deep within the crater of Popocatépel in an attempt to gain access to greater sulphur deposits. The charges were poorly placed, however, and an explosion and cave-in caused the prolonged death of thirteen individuals..." (from p. 30, reference #9676) 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/). #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. #9676 LaFevor, Matthew C. (2010): Mountains and Creative Mexican Maps: From Seminar to Survey. Retrieved Jan 5, 2011 from link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1913 Jan 17 - Jan 24	Colima	4	Western Mexico
1913 Jan 20 (eruption 1913 Jan 17 - Jan 24)	Colima	4	Western Mexico	13		Info
1913 Jan 20: At least 8 persons died following the January 20 plinian eruption from burns produced when they walked and collapsed in hot pyroclastic-flow deposits or were buried by collapsing walls of hot deposits in river valleys. Four or five persons died from an explosion when hot pyroclastic-flow debris forming a dam collapsed into the water. One person was killed by secondary lahars. (reference #9675) Cited references #9675 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Fatalities & Evacuations, Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 329-347. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1908 Dec 18 - 1909 Jul 1 ±30 d.	Colima	3	Western Mexico
1904 - 1906	Colima	1?	Western Mexico
1903 Feb 15 - Oct 30	Colima	3	Western Mexico
1893 Dec 4 - 1902	Colima	2	Western Mexico

(*) Estimated numbers

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

Mexico FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Mexico?

The last volcanic eruption in Mexico was from Colima volcano in 2019.

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Mexico?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1345 AD from Popocatépetl volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Mexico erupt?

Since 1345 AD, Mexico has seen at least 103 historically documented eruptions. This means that a volcano erupts on average every 6.6 years.

+How active are the volcanoes in Mexico?

Mexico is volcanically very active: Since 1900, at least 6 volcanoes in Mexico have been active.Since 1900, Mexico has had 33 volcanic eruptions from 6 individual volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions have been recorded erupted during 95 years out of 126 as of now. This means, at least one volcano in Mexico has been in eruption in one in 1.3 years on average. The last volcano to erupt in Mexico was Colima volcano, which erupted in 2019, 6 years ago.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Mexico?

The largest eruption in Mexico in historic times was from El Chichón volcano. It occurred in 1982. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

Latest earthquakes: Mexico

In the past 7 days, Mexico was shaken by 27 quakes of magnitude 4.0 or above, 150 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 15 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 28 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel.

A Magnitude 4.2 earthquake occurred in Chiapas, Mexico .

Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake Chiapas, Mexico -

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Nearest Volcano / Location
Apr 9, 05:15 am (Mexico City)	4.1 54 km	127 km (79 mi) S of Colima	Michoacan, 83 km southeast of Tecoman, Colima, Mexico I FELT IT	Info
Apr 8, 08:06 pm (Merida)	4.2 104 km	166 km (103 mi) S of El Chichón	26 km southeast of Tonala, Chiapas, Mexico I FELT IT	Info
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 8, 08:01 am (Mexico City)	4.1 121 km	152 km (94 mi) S of San Martín	38 km north of Matias Romero, Oaxaca, Mexico I FELT IT	Info
Monday, April 7, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 6, 11:12 pm (Mexico City)	4.4 128 km	164 km (102 mi) S of San Martín	31 km northeast of Matias Romero, Oaxaca, Mexico I FELT IT	Info
Sunday, April 6, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 6, 04:32 pm (GMT -7)	4.3 10 km	237 km (147 mi) E of Bárcena	Revilla Gigedo Islands Region I FELT IT	Info
Friday, April 4, 2025 GMT (1 quake)
Apr 3, 07:20 pm (GMT -7)	4.4 3.6 km	32 km (20 mi) NE of Isla Tortuga	Gulf of California I FELT IT	Info

See Recent Quakes

Significant Earthquakes in Mexico since 1900

The deadliest earthquake in Mexico since 1900 was the magnitude 8.1 earthquake in

Mexico, Michoacan on Sep, 19, 1985. It resulted in 9,500 fatalities and 30,000 injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects. The height of the tsunami waves reached 3 m (10 ft). This was the most disastrous quake in Mexico ever recorded.
This was the 8th worst quake in Mexico during recorded history. 226 houses and other buildings were destroyed and 184,000 damaged.

Date	Mag	Region	Deaths	Damage
2017 Sep 19	7.1	Mexico City, Morelos, Puebla	369	catastrophic	Info
2017 Sep 8	8.2	Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco; Guatemala	98	catastrophic	Info
2003 Jan 22	7.5	Villa De Alvarez, Colima, Tecoman, Jalisco	29	heavy	Info
1999 Sep 30	7.5	Oaxaca	35	very heavy	Info
1999 Jun 15	7.0	Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Morelos, Guerrero	20	very heavy	Info
1995 Oct 9	8.0	Jalisco, Manzanillo, San Patricio Melaque	50	moderate	Info
1985 Sep 21	7.6	Sw Coast Mexico City	50-100 (*)	moderate	Info
1985 Sep 19	8.1	Michoacan Mexico City	9,500	catastrophic	Info
1982 Mar 28	3.5	Chiapas	1,879	moderate	Info
1980 Oct 24	6.4	S, Huajapan De Leon, Oaxaca	300	moderate	Info
1973 Aug 28	6.2	Veracruz, Mexico City	600	heavy	Info
1973 Jan 30	7.5	S, Farias, Tecoman	56	moderate	Info
1968 Sep 25	6.1	Mexico-guatemala: S Chiapas	20	moderate	Info
1964 Jul 6	7.3	Guerrero	78	heavy	Info
1959 Aug 26	6.9	Gulf of Campeche	25	heavy	Info
1957 Jul 28	7.9	Acapulco, Mexico City	65	heavy	Info
1937 Jul 26	7.2	Central, Puebla Esperanza, Veracruz	34	moderate	Info
1932 Jun 22	7.7	Central	75	heavy	Info
1932 Jun 3	8.1	Near Coast of Jalisco	400	heavy	Info
1920 Jan 3	7.8	Veracruz Cozautlan, Puebla Patlanala	648	moderate	Info
1911 Jun 7	7.6	Colima, Jalisco, Mexico City	100-1,000 (*)	heavy	Info
1900 Jan 20	7.3	Mexico	50-100 (*)	heavy	Info

(*) Estimated numbers

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 Mexico FAQ

+Which was the deadliest earthquake in Mexico since 1900?

The deadliest earthquake in Mexico since 1900 was the magnitude 8.1 earthquake in Mexico, Michoacan on Sep, 19, 1985. It resulted in 9,500 fatalities and 30,000 injured people. A tsunami was generated by the quake as well and contributed to its desctuctive effects. The height of the tsunami waves reached 3 m (10 ft). This was the most disastrous quake in Mexico ever recorded.

+Which was the earthquake that caused most damage in Mexico since 1900?

The earthquake that caused most damage was the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Mexico, Estado de Puebla on Sep, 19, 2017. It caused 369 fatalities and estimated $8 billion US Dollars (today's equivalent) in total economic damage.