Eruption at Piparo Mud Volcano damages roads and homes, Trinidad and Tobago
Activity at the Piparo Mud Volcano in Trinidad and Tobago began increasing early on December 24, 2025, and continued through Christmas, ejecting mud up to 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air and damaging roads, homes, and nearby infrastructure. Officials confirmed visible cracks, ground uplift, and frequent eruptions occurring every 10–20 seconds as assessments and safety operations remained underway.
Road damage due to Piparo Mud Volcano in Trinidad and Tobago on December 24, 2025. Credit: Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government
Activity at Piparo Mud Volcano began increasing early on December 24, continuing into Christmas, triggering explosions and causing significant damage to roads, nearby homes, and other structures.
Mud explosions were reportedly occurring every 10 to 20 seconds, ejecting mud around 4.6 m (15 feet) into the air along with other gases. The eruptions were audible up to 15–30 m (50–100 feet) away from the site.
The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government said that efforts were underway to ensure public safety and that initial damage assessments were being conducted in collaboration with Disaster Management Units from multiple agencies.
Multiple homes in areas around the volcano have reported cracks and wall collapses due to the increasing activity since Wednesday.
“Reports indicate that the volcano’s main vent is experiencing increased activity, with visible cracks observed along the roadway in the western area. This has resulted in additional damage to one of the access roads leading into the community. Agencies on site continue to support ground assessments and public safety operations,” the ministry said in a press release on December 24.
The main road to Piparo was damaged and left impassable as it rose by 61–91 cm (2–3 feet) in some areas due to the explosions.
The last major eruption at the volcano occurred on February 22, 1997, when it erupted mud and debris 61 m (200 feet) into the air, covering an area of 2.5 km² (1 mile²). This forced the evacuation of over 300 people. Thirty-one families were displaced, while some pets and livestock were killed during the incident.
The volcano remained relatively dormant after that, showing occasional signs of activity until its next major burst in 2019, when it caused cracks and wall collapses affecting multiple homes in the area.
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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