Volcano · France (Martinique)
Mont Pelée
Its 1902 eruption destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre.
Status right now
No current reports
Mont Pelée is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 5 Nov 2026, 01:31 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- France (Martinique)
- Region
- Caribbean
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 1,394 m (4,573 ft)
- Coordinates
- 14.820° N, 61.170° W
- Smithsonian number
- 360120
What kind of volcano is it?
Mont Pelée is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 1902 | 4 | 23 | tsunami |
| 8 May 1902 | 4 | 28,000 | tsunami |
| 30 Aug 1902 | 4 | 1,500 | tsunami |
| 20 May 1902 | 4 | – | tsunami |
| 10 Jul 1902 | 4 | – | tsunami |
| 6 Jun 1902 | 4 | – | tsunami |
6 significant eruptions near Mont Pelée in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- La SoufrièreSt Vincent · 166 km
- Soufrière HillsMontserrat · 237 km
- Nevado del RuizColombia · 1,902 km
- ReventadorEcuador · 2,455 km
- PoásCosta Rica · 2,554 km
- CotopaxiEcuador · 2,564 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.