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Kerinci

Stratovolcano in Indonesia

Last Eruption: 2024

Key Facts

Elevation

3,800 m (12,467 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

-1.697°, 101.264°

Region

Sunda Volcanic Arc

Total Eruptions

38

Max VEI

VEI 2

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Eruption Timeline

2024 CENotable

Most recent confirmed eruption

2014 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1999 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1969 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1949 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1944 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1941 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1916 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1896 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1891 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1876 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1869 CEVEI 1

Historical eruption (estimated)

1854 CEVEI 3

Historical eruption (estimated)

1829 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

1819 CEVEI 2

Historical eruption (estimated)

Overview

Gunung Kerinci in central Sumatra forms Indonesia's highest volcano and is one of the most active in Sumatra. It is capped by an unvegetated young summit cone that was constructed NE of an older crater remnant. There is a deep 600-m-wide summit crater often partially filled by a small crater lake that lies on the NE crater floor, opposite the SW-rim summit.

The massive 13 x 25 km wide volcano towers 2400-3300 m above surrounding plains and is elongated in a N-S direction. Frequently active, Kerinci has been the source of numerous moderate explosive eruptions since its first recorded eruption in 1838.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Silica Content
Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Holocene
Evidence
Eruption Observed

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded Eruptions38HighHighly active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI 2MinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity2 years agoVery RecentCurrently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Active
Recent volcanic activity detected. Continuous monitoring in place.

Nearby Volcanoes in Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity
The Sunda-Banda Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

  • •Smithsonian ID: 261170
  • •Evidence: Eruption Observed
  • •Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The unvegetated summit of Gunung Kerinci in central Sumatra is seen here from Pengamatan on its southern flank. Kerinci is one of the most active volcanoes in Sumatra and has been the source of numerous moderate explosive eruptions since its first recorded eruption in 1838. The 13 x 25 km wide volcano rises above the surrounding plains.

Photo by Umar Rosadi, 2005 (Centre of Volcanology & Geological Hazard Mitigation, Volcanological Survey of Indonesia).

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database
USGS Volcano Hazards
U.S. Geological Survey
Global Volcanism Program
Smithsonian Institution

Related Volcanoes

In Indonesia:
All Japan Volcanoes
105 active volcanoes
By Type:
Caldera Volcanoes
Large collapse features
By Region:
Kuril Volcanic Arc
Subduction zone volcanoes

Basic Information

This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.