What was erupting in the year...?
There were 58 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1960 from 56 different volcanoes; 35 of those were new eruptions that started during the year. A stop date with "(continuing)" indicates that the eruption was considered to be ongoing as of the date indicated. Data is reported through the last data update (30 December 2025). Information about more recent eruptions can be found in the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report.
| Volcano | Country | Eruption Start Date | Eruption Stop Date | Eruption Type | Max VEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1960 Dec 19 | 1961 Sep 25 ± 5 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1960 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1963 Mar 22 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Slamet | Indonesia | 1960 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1961 Jan 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Mutnovsky | Russia | 1960 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1961 Jan 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Guallatiri | Chile | 1960 Dec 2 | Unknown | 2 | |
| Chirpoi | Russia | 1960 Oct 20 | Unknown | 2 | |
| Okmok | United States | 1960 Oct 15 ± 45 days | 1961 Apr 15 ± 45 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nasudake | Japan | 1960 Oct 10 (?) | Unknown | 1 | |
| Cerro Negro | Nicaragua | 1960 Sep 28 | 1960 Dec 26 ± 5 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ketoi | Russia | 1960 Sep 27 | Unknown | 2 | |
| Ambrym | Vanuatu | 1960 Sep 17 | Unknown | 1 | |
| Asosan | Japan | 1960 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1962 Nov 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Akan | Japan | 1960 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1960 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Sarychev Peak | Russia | 1960 Aug 30 | 1960 Aug 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ulawun | Papua New Guinea | 1960 Jul 29 ± 3 days | 1962 Nov 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Myojinsho | Japan | 1960 Jul 21 | Unknown | 2 | |
| East Epi | Vanuatu | 1960 Jul 16 (?) ± 15 days | Unknown | 0 | |
| Kerinci | Indonesia | 1960 Jul 16 ± 15 days | Unknown | 2 | |
| Tupungatito | Chile-Argentina | 1960 Jul 15 ± 5 days | Unknown | 2 | |
| Lopevi | Vanuatu | 1960 Jul 10 | 1960 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Planchon-Peteroa | Chile | 1960 Jul 10 (?) | Unknown | 1 | |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1960 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Unknown | 0 | |
| San Jose | Chile-Argentina | 1960 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | 2 | |
| Copahue | Chile-Argentina | 1960 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Unknown | – | |
| Pavlof | United States | 1960 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 1963 Jun 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Reventador | Ecuador | 1960 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Unknown | 3 | |
| Puyehue-Cordon Caulle | Chile | 1960 May 24 | 1960 Jul 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Bam | Papua New Guinea | 1960 Apr 28 | 1960 Jul 6 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karymsky | Russia | 1960 Apr 16 ± 15 days | 1964 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1960 Apr 13 | 1960 Apr 14 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 1960 Mar 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 1966 Nov 28 ± 30 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sirung | Indonesia | 1960 Mar 13 | Unknown | 2 | |
| Asosan | Japan | 1960 Jan 16 ± 15 days | 1960 Apr 9 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1960 Jan 16 ± 15 days | Unknown | 0 | |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1960 Jan 11 | 1960 Mar 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Lautaro | Chile | 1959 Dec 28 | 1960 Jan 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1959 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1960 Dec 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Krakatau | Indonesia | 1959 Dec 16 ± 15 days | 1963 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Lascar | Chile | 1959 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1968 Jan 31 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1959 Nov 14 | 1960 Feb 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 1959 Oct 17 | 1964 Dec 31 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Izu-Oshima | Japan | 1959 Oct 16 ± 15 days | 1960 Nov 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Tolbachik | Russia | 1959 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1960 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1959 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | 1960 May 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Tofua | Tonga | 1958 Dec 31 ± 120 days | 1960 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Rumble III | New Zealand | 1958 Jul 9 | 1962 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 1958 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1961 Jul 3 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Trident | United States | 1957 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1960 Aug 10 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Colima | Mexico | 1957 May 14 | 1960 Jul 2 ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1956 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1984 May 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1950 Jul 23 | 1964 Dec 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Nyiragongo | DR Congo | 1927 Mar 16 ± 15 days | 1977 Jan 10 | Lava Lake | 1 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Dec 17 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.4; 30 Dec 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
