Popocatépetl Volcano

Updated: Mar 25, 2025 13:18 GMT - refresh

Stratovolcano

Central Mexico, 19.02°N / -98.62°W

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Summit height: 5426 m / 17,802 ft

Current status: erupting (4 out of 5)

Last update: 24 Mar 2025 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)

Popocatepetl is one of Mexico's most active volcanoes. After almost 50 years of dormancy, "Popo" came back to life in 1994 and has since then been producing powerful explosions at irregular intervals.
In the past centuries befor European invasions, large eruptions produced giant mud flows that have buried Atzteque settlements, even entire pyramids.

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Typical eruption style: Dominantly explosive, construction of lava domes. Plinian eruptions at intervals of several centuries or few thousands of years, vulcanian and strombolian activity in intermittent phases.
Popocatépetl volcano eruptions: 1345-47, 1354, 1363(?), 1488, 1504, 1509(?), 1512, 1518, 1519-23(?), 1528, 1530, 1539-40, 1542, 1548, 1571, 1580, 1590, 1592-94, 1642, 1663-65, 1666-67, 1697, 1720, 1802-04, 1827(?), 1834(?), 1852(?), 1919-22, 1923-24, 1925-27(?), 1933, 1942-43, 1947, 1994-95, 1996-2003, 2004-ongoing

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location
Mar 15, 04:49 am (Universal Time)	2? 5 km	7.6 km (4.7 mi) to the NW	Central Mexico (unconfirmed)	Info

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Background

Volcán Popocatépetl, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain, towers to 5426 m 70 km SE of Mexico City to form North America's 2nd-highest volcano. The glacier-clad stratovolcano contains a steep-walled, 250-450 m deep crater. The generally symmetrical volcano is modified by the sharp-peaked Ventorrillo on the NW, a remnant of an earlier volcano.
At least three previous major cones were destroyed by gravitational failure during the Pleistocene, producing massive debris-avalanche deposits covering broad areas south of the volcano. The modern volcano was constructed to the south of the late-Pleistocene to Holocene El Fraile cone. Three major plinian eruptions, the most recent of which took place about 800 AD, have occurred from Popocatépetl since the mid Holocene, accompanied by pyroclastic flows and voluminous lahars that swept basins below the volcano. Frequent historical eruptions, first recorded in Aztec codices, have occurred since precolumbian time.
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Source: GVP, Smithsonian Institution - Popocatepetl information

Popocatépetl Volcano Photos

Popocatepetl is one of Mexico's most active volcanoes and also part of an Aztec legend, a warrior who fell in love with a young woman (Iztaccihuatl) who died while he was...

Volcano Tecajete, Popocatepetl in clouds (background), view from San Pedro Cholula , Mexico (Photo: WNomad)

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Significant volcanic eruptions: Popocatépetl volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Popocatépetl has had at least 41 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 32 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 5 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Popocatépetl volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Popocatépetl volcano since around 1000 AD. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Popocatépetl can be found on the news page of Popocatépetl volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths	Damage
2005 Jan 9 - ongoing	Historical obs./docs.	2
2022 Jun 22 (eruption 2005 Jan 9 - ongoing)	Historical obs./docs.	2	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
2004 May 26	Historical obs./docs.	2
1996 Mar 5 - 2003 Nov 22 ?	Historical obs./docs.	3
1996 Apr 30 (eruption 1996 Mar 5 - 2003 Nov 22 ?)	Historical obs./docs.	3	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	Historical obs./docs.	2
1947 Jan - Feb	Historical obs./docs.	1
1942 - 1943	Historical obs./docs.	1
1933 Jan 23	Historical obs./docs.	1
1925 - 1927 ?	Historical obs./docs.	2
1923 Nov 27 - 1924 Mar 7	Historical obs./docs.	1
1919 Feb 19 ? - 1922	Historical obs./docs.	1
1919 Feb 19 (eruption 1919 Feb 19 ? - 1922)	Historical obs./docs.	1	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
?? 1852	Uncertain Eruption	1?
?? 1834	Uncertain Eruption	1?
?? 1827	Uncertain Eruption	1?
1802 - 1804	Historical obs./docs.	1
1720	Historical obs./docs.	1
1697 AD Oct 20	Historical obs./docs.	1
1666 AD - 1667	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1663 AD Oct 13 - 1665 Oct 19	Historical obs./docs.	3?
1642 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
1592 AD - 1594 Oct	Historical obs./docs.	2
1590 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1580 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1571 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
1548 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
1542 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
1539 AD - 1540	Historical obs./docs.	2
1530 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2
1528 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1519 AD Sep - 1523 ?	Historical obs./docs.	3?
1518 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1512 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1509 AD	Uncertain Eruption	?
1504 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1488 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1363 AD	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1354 AD	Historical obs./docs.	2?
1345 AD - 1347	Historical obs./docs.	2?

(*) 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

Popocatépetl Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Popocatépetl volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Popocatépetl began in 2005 and is continuing (as of March 2025).

+How often does Popocatépetl volcano erupt?

Since 1345 AD, Popocatépetl volcano has had at least 32 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 21.3 years.
Many eruptions of Popocatépetl have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 81 out of 680 years until now. In other words, Popocatépetl has been active at least one in 8.4 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Popocatépetl is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+How active is Popocatépetl volcano at present?

Popocatépetl volcano is very active: Since 1900, it has had 45 eruptions, and been active during 45 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Popocatépetl has been in eruption one in 2.8 years on average. The latest eruption is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest eruption of Popocatépetl volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Popocatépetl volcano occurred around 200 BC. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

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See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

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Popocatépetl Volcano Tours

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Popocatépetl Volcano Special

tour to see the ongoing eruption of Mexico's most active volcano

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Popocatépetl 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).