What kind of volcano is Mount Pelee?

Mount Pelee is classified as a Stratovolcano in France. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km).

How is seismicity near Mount Pelee monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Volcano Dossier•GVP #360120

14.81°N, 61.17°W

Erupted in the 20th century

Volcano Mount Pelee

Q: When did Mount Pelee last erupt?

The most recent eruption of Mount Pelee recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 1932.

Q: How is seismicity near Mount Pelee monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

On 8 May 1902 a pyroclastic flow from Mount Pelee on Martinique destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre within minutes, killing about 28,000 people, the deadliest eruption of the 20th century. The disaster gave volcanology the term 'Pelean eruption', and the volcano has shown renewed unrest since 2020.

Last eruption

1932

Erupted in the 20th century

Summit

1.4 km

Stratovolcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

Time	Magnitude	Epicenter / Place	Distance	Depth
45d ago	M4.1	16 km NNW of Basse-Pointe, Martinique	22 km	159.1 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

Mount Pelee is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano

Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite

TectonicsSubduction zone

Volcanic ArcLesser Antilles Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #360120

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryFrance

Crater Coordinates14.809°, -61.166°

Summit1.4 km

SubregionLesser Antilles Volcanic Arc

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#360120)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN

Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network

International Civil Aviation Organization

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Mount Pelee recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 1932.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile