Volcano · Colombia
Nevado del Ruiz
Its 1985 mudflows destroyed the town of Armero.
Status right now
No current reports
Nevado del Ruiz 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, 01:33 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Colombia
- Region
- South America
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 5,279 m (17,320 ft)
- Coordinates
- 4.892° N, 75.324° W
- Smithsonian number
- 351020
What kind of volcano is it?
Nevado del Ruiz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov 1985 | 3 | 23,080 | – |
| 19 Feb 1845 | 3 | 1,000 | earthquake |
| 12 Mar 1595 | 4 | 636 | – |
3 significant eruptions near Nevado del Ruiz 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
- ReventadorEcuador · 610 km
- CotopaxiEcuador · 709 km
- SangayEcuador · 837 km
- PoásCosta Rica · 1,145 km
- MasayaNicaragua · 1,429 km
- La SoufrièreSt Vincent · 1,813 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.