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Heisei-shinzan lava dome of Mount Unzen above Shimabara, Japan
Photo:Tom Casadevall
Volcano Dossier•GVP #282100
32.76°N, 130.30°E
Erupted in the 20th century
Japan→

Volcano Unzen

In 1792 an earthquake collapsed the Mayuyama dome into the sea, raising a tsunami that killed some 15,000 people — Japan's deadliest volcanic disaster. Its 1990–1995 eruption grew the Heisei-shinzan lava dome, and on 3 June 1991 a pyroclastic flow killed 43 people, among them the volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft.

Last Eruption

1996

Erupted in the 20th century

Summit Elevation

1.5 km

Complex volcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Seismic State

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.

TimeMagnitudeEpicenter / PlaceDistance
1d agoM2.535 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)40 km
3d agoM3.048 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)44 km
3d agoM3.135 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)40 km
4d agoM2.835 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)40 km
4d agoM3.022 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)42 km
5d agoM2.3Near Kumamoto (Japan)47 km
5d agoM4.1Near Kumamoto (Japan)38 km
5d agoM4.1Near Kumamoto (Japan)38 km
7d agoM3.024 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)33 km
7d agoM2.753 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)41 km
8d agoM3.035 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)40 km
9d agoM1.835 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)40 km
13d agoM2.648 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)44 km
14d agoM2.946 km S of Kumamoto (Japan)49 km
14d agoM3.1Near Kumamoto (Japan)47 km
17d agoM2.748 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)44 km
17d agoM2.548 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)44 km
17d agoM3.024 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)33 km
20d agoM2.5Near Kumamoto (Japan)38 km
21d agoM3.638 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)35 km
21d agoM3.538 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)35 km
22d agoM2.848 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)44 km
22d agoM2.738 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)35 km
25d agoM2.348 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)44 km
25d agoM2.638 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)35 km
26d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)33 km
26d agoM3.124 km SW of Kumamoto (Japan)33 km
27d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
27d agoM3.5熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
27d agoM2.1熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
27d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
27d agoM3.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
28d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
28d agoM3.1熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
28d agoM2.6熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
29d agoM2.9熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
31d agoM2.6熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
31d agoM2.8熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
32d agoM2.1熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
32d agoM2.4熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
32d agoM2.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
32d agoM2.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
32d agoM2.8熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
32d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
32d agoM3.5熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan35 km
32d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
32d agoM3.0熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan35 km
33d agoM2.4熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
33d agoM2.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
33d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)42 km
33d agoM3.1熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
33d agoM3.1熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
33d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
33d agoM3.5熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
33d agoM2.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
34d agoM2.7熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
34d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)38 km
34d agoM3.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
38d agoM2.8熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan35 km
39d agoM2.6熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
40d agoM3.6KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)47 km
40d agoM3.6熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
40d agoM3.6熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
40d agoM2.9熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
40d agoM4.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
40d agoM4.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
40d agoM4.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
40d agoM2.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
41d agoM2.7熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
41d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
41d agoM3.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
43d agoM3.3KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)38 km
43d agoM3.3熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
44d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
44d agoM3.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
44d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)42 km
44d agoM3.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
44d agoM3.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
44d agoM2.3熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
46d agoM2.7熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
47d agoM2.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
47d agoM2.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan42 km
47d agoM2.3熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
48d agoM2.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
48d agoM2.9熊本県熊本地方, Japan38 km
48d agoM3.2KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)33 km
48d agoM3.2熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan33 km
48d agoM2.3熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
49d agoM1.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
50d agoM2.6熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
51d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
51d agoM3.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
51d agoM4.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)49 km
51d agoM4.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan49 km
51d agoM4.0熊本県熊本地方, Japan49 km
54d agoM2.6熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
55d agoM2.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
55d agoM2.5熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan44 km
55d agoM2.3熊本県熊本地方, Japan47 km
55d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
55d agoM3.1熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
56d agoM2.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
56d agoM2.9熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
56d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
56d agoM3.0熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan35 km
57d agoM2.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
57d agoM2.6熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan41 km
57d agoM3.3KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
57d agoM3.3熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
57d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
57d agoM3.5熊本県天草・芦北地方, Japan35 km
58d agoM3.8KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
58d agoM3.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
58d agoM3.8熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
59d agoM2.5熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
60d agoM2.4熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
60d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
60d agoM3.1熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
61d agoM2.9熊本県熊本地方, Japan40 km
63d agoM3.2KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
65d agoM3.2KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)33 km
65d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
67d agoM3.6KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
70d agoM3.8KYUSHU, JAPAN35 km
71d agoM3.3KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
72d agoM3.8KYUSHU, JAPAN40 km
73d agoM3.9KYUSHU, JAPAN33 km
74d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)38 km
75d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
76d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
78d agoM3.8KYUSHU, JAPAN33 km
78d agoM4.0KYUSHU, JAPAN35 km
79d agoM3.7KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
79d agoM3.2KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
79d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
81d agoM3.6KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)47 km
81d agoM3.4KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)47 km
82d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)33 km
82d agoM3.3KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
82d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
83d agoM3.4KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
83d agoM3.2KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
83d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
84d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
84d agoM4.0KYUSHU, JAPAN40 km
84d agoM4.416 km SW of Honmachi, Japan40 km
84d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)47 km
84d agoM4.97 km WSW of Honmachi, Japan38 km
85d agoM3.8KYUSHU, JAPAN42 km
85d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
85d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
85d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)44 km
86d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)47 km
86d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
86d agoM3.7KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)35 km
86d agoM4.116 km E of Amakusa, Japan37 km
87d agoM4.211 km SSW of Honmachi, Japan45 km
87d agoM3.4KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
87d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
87d agoM3.1KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)40 km
87d agoM3.5KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)33 km
88d agoM4.418 km NNW of Tsunagi, Japan42 km
88d agoM3.6KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)42 km
88d agoM3.0KYUSHU, JAPAN (JMA)38 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Complex volcano

Unzen is an active Complex formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeComplex volcano
Major RockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic SettingSubduction zone
Volcanic ArcNankai Volcanic Arc

Volcanic Dossier

VN #282100

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryJapan
Crater Coordinates32.761°, 130.299°
Summit Elevation1.5 km
SubregionNankai Volcanic Arc
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#282100)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →
Seismic ObservatoryJMA
Japan Meteorological Agency (Volcano Observation)
Official Portal
ICAO Aviation Ash Center
Tokyo VAAC (JMA)
Tokyo, Japan
VAAC Advisory Desk
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →
Regional Seismic Profile

Japan

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

Earthquakes in Japan →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Unzen recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 1996.

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