An explosive eruption occurred at Semeru volcano in East Java, Indonesia, at 08:49 LT (01:49 UTC) on March 29, 2026, producing an ash plume rising 800 m (2 625 feet) above the summit and a pyroclastic density current traveling 3.5 km (2.2 miles) toward the Besuk Kobokan drainage.
New activity/unrest was reported for 4 volcanoes from March 19 to 25, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 22 volcanoes.
A new volcanic eruption occurred at Whakaari/White Island, New Zealand, at 17:35 LT on March 24, 2026, producing a dark grey ash plume rising to about 1 300 m (4 265 feet) above the vent. Authorities raised the Volcanic Alert Level to 3 and the Aviation Color Code to Orange following the event. Activity has since ceased, but further explosive events remain possible with little or no warning.
New activity/unrest was reported for 7 volcanoes from March 12 to 18, 2026. During the same period, ongoing activity was reported for 20 volcanoes.
More than 23 million m³ (812 million feet³) of magma have accumulated beneath the Svartsengi volcanic system on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula since the July 2025 eruption. Monitoring data released March 17, 2026, by the Icelandic Meteorological Office show this is the largest magma accumulation between eruptions since activity began on the Sundhnúksgígar crater row in December 2023. The official hazard assessment for the area remains unchanged and is valid until March 31.
Explosive activity at Sheveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, produced a volcanic ash plume rising to approximately 10.4 km (34 000 feet) altitude at 11:20 UTC on March 16, 2026, drifting east across the North Pacific. Satellite imagery from Himawari-9 detected the ash cloud moving east at around 110 km/h (70 mph). The Aviation Color Code remains at Orange.
Lava from an ongoing eruption at Piton de la Fournaise entered the Indian Ocean along the southeastern coast of Réunion Island at about 00:20 local time on March 16, 2026, after advancing downslope through the Grand Brûlé lava field and crossing the RN2 coastal road several days earlier, producing steam plumes and localized hazards where molten rock met seawater.
An explosive eruption occurred at Kanlaon volcano on Negros Island, central Philippines, at 18:07 LT (10:07 UTC) on March 15, 2026, producing an ash plume rising more than 5 km (3.1 miles) above the summit and depositing ashfall across at least 54 barangays in 11 local government units. Monitoring data associated with the event recorded nine volcanic earthquakes and sulfur-dioxide emissions of about 1 085 tonnes per day. Authorities also reported vegetation fires on the volcano’s slopes and suspended classes in several municipalities on March 16 as a precaution.
Lava from an ongoing eruption at Piton de la Fournaise crossed the RN2 coastal road in the Grand Brûlé sector of Réunion Island early March 13, 2026, cutting a key transport link between the island’s southern and eastern regions.
A weak eruption was detected at Whakaari / White Island volcano in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, on the morning of March 12, 2026, prompting authorities to raise the Volcanic Alert Level from 2 to 3 and the Aviation Colour Code from Yellow to Orange. According to GeoNet monitoring data, ash was observed in a low-level plume above the main vent, with ashfall confined to the crater floor.
