Five vents open during Wandan mud volcano eruption in Pingtung County, Taiwan
A mud-volcano eruption occurred in Pingtung County, Taiwan, on November 12, 2025, producing five vents that expelled mud and flames up to 2 m (6.5 feet) high. Village authorities created diversion channels to prevent mud from entering nearby farmland.
Five vents open during Wandan mud volcano eruption in Pingtung County, Taiwan. Credit: Mark Tingay
A mud-volcano eruption occurred in front of Huangyuan Temple in Wannei Village, Wandan Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, at around 05:00 LT on November 12. The eruption produced five active vents discharging mud and burning gas, with flames reaching approximately 2 m (6.5 feet).
Temple abbot Chang Pao-hui said the previous eruption occurred about six months earlier. According to local records, the Wandan mud volcano has erupted at least once every year since 1988, making it one of Taiwan’s most active mud-volcano systems.
Mud-volcano activity in southern Taiwan is driven by high-pressure gases, primarily methane, rising from depth through fault-related conduits. The gases mix with groundwater and interact with mudstone formations, producing a water-rich slurry that is forced to the surface when subsurface pressure exceeds the strength of overlying sediments.
Eruptions in the Wandan–Xinyuan area typically occur in or near Wannei Village, although new vents occasionally appear at other points within the broader system.
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