What kind of volcano is Nevado del Ruiz?

Nevado del Ruiz is classified as a Stratovolcano in Colombia. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Nevado del Ruiz 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.

Glaciated volcanic massif of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia

Photo:Norm Banksvia Smithsonian GVP

Volcano Dossier•GVP #351020

4.89°N, 75.32°W

Erupted since 2000

Colombia→

Volcano Nevado del Ruiz

A glacier-capped volcano in the Colombian Andes. On 13 November 1985 a modest eruption melted part of the ice cap, and lahars buried the town of Armero, killing more than 23,000 people: the deadliest volcanic disaster of the 20th century after Mount Pelee and a lasting lesson in hazard communication.

Last eruption

2026

Erupted since 2000

Summit

5.3 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.

No catalogued earthquakes within 50 km in the last 90 days.

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Stratovolcano

Nevado del Ruiz is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeStratovolcano

Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite

TectonicsSubduction zone

Volcanic ArcNorthern Andean Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #351020

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryColombia

Crater Coordinates4.892°, -75.324°

Summit5.3 km

SubregionNorthern Andean Volcanic Arc

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#351020)

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 →

Regional Seismic Profile

Choco Region

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Choco Region.

Open Regional Hub

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Nevado del Ruiz recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2026.

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