What was erupting in the year...?
There were 64 confirmed eruptions at some point during 1987 from 62 different volcanoes; 32 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 (19 September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyamulagira | DR Congo | 1987 Dec 30 | 1988 Jan 4 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Ranakah | Indonesia | 1987 Dec 28 | 1989 Apr 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Tupungatito | Chile-Argentina | 1987 Nov 28 | 1987 Nov 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Lascar | Chile | 1987 Nov 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 1990 Apr 6 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Telica | Nicaragua | 1987 Nov 16 ± 15 days | 1987 Nov 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Izu-Oshima | Japan | 1987 Nov 16 | 1988 Jan 27 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1987 Nov 6 | 1988 Dec 29 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Ebeko | Russia | 1987 Oct 14 | 1988 Jan 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Iliboleng | Indonesia | 1987 Oct 2 | 1987 Oct 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Pagan | United States | 1987 Sep 4 | 1987 Sep 4 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Amukta | United States | 1987 Sep 4 (?) | 1987 Sep 4 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Gareloi | United States | 1987 Aug 30 ± 5 days | 1987 Sep 4 (on or before) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Ruapehu | New Zealand | 1987 Aug 24 | 1987 Aug 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba | Japan | 1987 Jul 14 | 1987 Aug 30 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Colima | Mexico | 1987 Jul 2 | 1987 Jul 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Cleveland | United States | 1987 Jun 19 | 1987 Aug 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Poas | Costa Rica | 1987 Jun 16 ± 15 days | 1990 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1987 Jun 10 | 1987 Jul 20 | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Macdonald | France | 1987 Jun 4 | 1989 Jan 28 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Raung | Indonesia | 1987 May 16 ± 15 days | 1989 Jul 28 ± 3 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Niigata-Yakeyama | Japan | 1987 Apr 25 ± 5 days | Unknown | 1 | |
| Gamkonora | Indonesia | 1987 Apr 13 | 1987 Apr 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Semisopochnoi | United States | 1987 Apr 13 | 1987 Apr 18 ± 5 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica | 1987 Apr 1 | 1987 Apr 1 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Kanlaon | Philippines | 1987 Mar 30 (?) | 1987 Jul 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Veniaminof | United States | 1987 Mar 19 | 1987 Mar 19 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Atka Volcanic Complex | United States | 1987 Mar 4 (?) | 1987 Mar 19 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Makushin | United States | 1987 Mar 2 | 1987 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Masaya | Nicaragua | 1987 Feb 15 | 1987 Feb 22 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Akutan | United States | 1987 Jan 31 | 1987 Jun 24 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Marapi | Indonesia | 1987 Jan 15 | 1994 Aug 12 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Fuego | Guatemala | 1987 Jan 5 ± 4 days | 1987 Feb 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Bezymianny | Russia | 1986 Dec 5 ± 4 days | 1988 Jul 26 ± 5 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Klyuchevskoy | Russia | 1986 Nov 27 | 1990 Sep 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 4 |
| Okmok | United States | 1986 Nov 18 | 1988 Feb 26 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Piton de la Fournaise | France | 1986 Nov 12 | 1987 Feb 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 1 |
| Merapi | Indonesia | 1986 Oct 10 | 1990 Aug 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Pavlof | United States | 1986 Apr 16 | 1988 Aug 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sheveluch | Russia | 1986 Mar 28 | 1988 Feb 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Lokon-Empung | Indonesia | 1986 Mar 22 | 1987 May 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Shishaldin | United States | 1986 Mar 19 | 1987 Feb 15 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Whakaari/White Island | New Zealand | 1986 Feb 1 (?) | 1994 Jul 28 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Suwanosejima | Japan | 1985 Sep 16 ± 15 days | 1987 Jun 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia | 1985 Sep 11 | 1991 Jul 13 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sangeang Api | Indonesia | 1985 Jul 30 | 1988 Feb 16 ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Heard | Australia | 1985 Jan 14 | 1987 Jan 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Karangetang | Indonesia | 1983 May 16 ± 15 days | 1988 Dec 31 (on or after) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Kilauea | United States | 1983 Jan 3 | 2018 Sep 5 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Ol Doinyo Lengai | Tanzania | 1983 Jan 1 | 1993 Sep 24 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Etna | Italy | 1979 Jul 3 | 1993 Mar 30 | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Manam | Papua New Guinea | 1974 Mar 4 (?) | 1999 Nov 9 (?) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Langila | Papua New Guinea | 1973 Feb 24 ± 4 days | 2000 Oct 16 (on or after) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erebus | Antarctica | 1972 Dec 16 (on or before) ± 15 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Lava Lake | 2 |
| Bagana | Papua New Guinea | 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days | 1995 Jul 2 (on or after) ± 182 days | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Arenal | Costa Rica | 1968 Jul 29 | 2010 Dec 16 (?) ± 15 days | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Semeru | Indonesia | 1967 Aug 31 | 2009 Mar 15 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Erta Ale | Ethiopia | 1967 Jul 2 (in or before) ± 182 days | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 0 |
| Pacaya | Guatemala | 1965 Jul 4 | 1989 Mar 10 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Aira | Japan | 1955 Oct 13 | 2016 Aug 22 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Sangay | Ecuador | 1934 Aug 8 | 2011 Mar 2 | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Stromboli | Italy | 1934 Feb 2 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 2 |
| Dukono | Indonesia | 1933 Aug 13 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Santa Maria | Guatemala | 1922 Jun 22 | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
| Yasur | Vanuatu | 1270 ± 110 years | 2025 Sep 19 (continuing) | Explosive / Effusive | 3 |
List of Questions
Global Volcanism Program, 2025. [Database] Volcanoes of the World (v. 5.3.3; 26 Nov 2025). Distributed by Smithsonian Institution, compiled by Venzke, E. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.VOTW5-2025.5.3
