🌋VolcanoAtlas

Tungurahua

The Black Giant of the Eastern Andes

Elevation

5,023 m

Last Eruption

2016

Type

Stratovolcano

Country

Ecuador

Location

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Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

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

Risk Level

Population at RiskLow
Infrastructure RiskHigh
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Unknown
Silica Content
Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Unknown
Intraplate setting with hotspot or regional volcanic activity.

Age & Formation

Epoch
Unknown
Evidence
Unknown

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity10 years agoRecentRecently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Watch
Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Authority Sources

Smithsonian GVP
Official volcano database

Related Volcanoes

All Ecuador Volcanoes
Explore by country
Stratovolcano Volcanoes
By volcano type
Eastern Cordillera, Andes
Regional volcanoes

Other Volcanoes in Ecuador

Interesting Facts

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Tungurahua towers more than 3,200 m above the city of Banos at its base — one of the most dramatic volcano-to-city elevation differences on Earth.

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The name 'Tungurahua' means 'Throat of Fire' in Kichwa (Quechua), a name given by indigenous communities who witnessed its eruptions centuries before European contact.

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The 1999-2016 eruption lasted 17 years, making it one of the longest continuous volcanic crises in South American history.

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Approximately 25,000 people were evacuated from Banos in 1999, but frustrated residents forced their way past military blockades to return in January 2000 while the volcano was still erupting.

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Tungurahua has experienced two catastrophic edifice collapses: Tungurahua II collapsed ~3,000 years ago, producing a debris avalanche that traveled down the Rio Pastaza valley.

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The volcano's maximum known eruption intensity is VEI 5 (~1010 BCE), far larger than anything witnessed in historical times.

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The famous 'Casa del Arbol' swing at Banos overlooks Tungurahua and became one of the most photographed locations in South America.

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Banos de Agua Santa ('Baths of Holy Water') takes its name from the volcanic hot springs heated by Tungurahua's geothermal system.

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During the 2006 eruption phase, pyroclastic flows traveled several kilometers down the flanks, killing at least 5 people in the community of Palictahua.

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Tungurahua's monitoring network is one of the most comprehensive in South America, including seismometers, infrasound sensors, SO2 analyzers, GPS, lahar detectors, and webcams.

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Three successive volcanic edifices — Tungurahua I, II, and III — have been built at this site since the mid-Pleistocene, with each predecessor collapsing catastrophically.

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The volcano's glacier cap has been retreating rapidly, both from climate change and volcanic heating, increasing the lahar risk from rainfall on exposed ash deposits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tungurahua still active?
Yes, Tungurahua is classified as an active volcano. Its most recent major eruption lasted from 1999 to 2016, one of the longest volcanic crises in South American history. Since 2016, the volcano has been in a period of relative quiescence, but background seismicity and fumarolic emissions from the summit crater continue, indicating the magmatic system remains thermally active. Ecuador's Instituto Geofisico maintains continuous monitoring with seismometers, gas sensors, and other instruments. The historical pattern of Tungurahua — decades of quiet followed by years-long eruptions — means scientists consider future eruptions a certainty, though the timing cannot be predicted.
What does Tungurahua mean?
Tungurahua means 'Throat of Fire' in the Kichwa (Quechua) language, derived from tunguri (throat or gullet) and rauray (to burn). The name vividly describes the volcano's characteristic eruption style, in which explosive bursts from the summit crater produce incandescent columns of ash, rock, and gas. The name was given by indigenous communities who inhabited the region long before European colonization, indicating that Tungurahua's eruptive nature has been known for centuries. The Kichwa language remains widely spoken in the Ecuadorian highlands.
When did Tungurahua last erupt?
Tungurahua's most recent eruption lasted from October 5, 1999, to 2016, a continuous eruptive period spanning 17 years with varying intensity. The most intense phases occurred in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014, with the 2012-2016 period rated VEI 3. Since 2016, the volcano has been relatively quiet but remains active. Prior to the 1999-2016 eruption, the last major activity occurred during a VEI 4 eruption from 1916 to 1925, followed by minor activity in 1944.
How tall is Tungurahua?
Tungurahua stands at 5,023 m (16,480 ft) above sea level, making it one of the tallest active volcanoes in Ecuador, though it is surpassed by Cotopaxi (5,897 m) and Sangay (5,230 m). What makes Tungurahua's height particularly dramatic is the enormous vertical relief between its summit and the city of Banos at its base — more than 3,200 m (10,500 ft) of elevation difference over a horizontal distance of just a few kilometers, creating one of the steepest and most imposing volcano-to-city relationships on Earth.
Is Banos safe from Tungurahua?
Banos de Agua Santa sits within Tungurahua's hazard zone, and the city was evacuated during the 1999-2016 eruption. However, Banos has coexisted with its volcano for centuries, and the Ecuadorian authorities maintain alert systems and evacuation plans to manage the risk. The city has early-warning sirens, designated evacuation routes, and regular drills. During the 1999-2016 eruption, the most destructive pyroclastic flows affected areas south and west of the summit rather than directly striking Banos. The risk is real but managed, and hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Banos annually. Visitors should always check current volcanic alert levels.
What type of volcano is Tungurahua?
Tungurahua is classified as a stratovolcano (composite volcano), built from alternating layers of andesitic lava flows, tephra (volcanic fragments), and pyroclastic deposits. The dominant rock type is andesite to basaltic andesite (57-63% SiO2), which produces eruptions ranging from moderate Strombolian lava fountaining to violent Vulcanian and sub-Plinian explosions. The volcano's steep-sided cone reflects its explosive eruption style. Three successive edifices (Tungurahua I, II, and III) have been built at this location, with each predecessor collapsing catastrophically before being rebuilt.
Can you visit Tungurahua volcano?
Banos de Agua Santa at Tungurahua's base is one of Ecuador's most popular tourist destinations, offering hot springs, adventure sports, and spectacular volcano views. The Casa del Arbol (Tree House) swing on the Beltavista ridge provides one of the most iconic viewpoints. Hiking on Tungurahua's upper slopes is possible during quiescent periods but may be restricted depending on the current volcanic alert level set by Ecuador's Instituto Geofisico. The thermal baths (Termas de la Virgen, El Salado) are heated by volcanic geothermal activity and are open year-round. The best time for volcano views is during dry months (June-September, December-February).
How many people died in Tungurahua eruptions?
During the 1999-2016 eruption, at least 5 people were killed by pyroclastic flows in the community of Palictahua during the intense August 2006 eruptive phase. Additional fatalities may have occurred in other phases but are not well-documented. Historical eruptions in the 19th and early 20th centuries likely caused casualties as well, though precise records are incomplete. The 1999 evacuation of Banos — displacing approximately 25,000 people — prevented what could have been a much larger death toll. The volcano's VEI 5 eruption approximately 3,000 years ago would have been catastrophic for any inhabitants at the time.