Volcano · Ecuador
Sangay
Erupting almost continuously for decades.
Status right now
No current reports
Sangay 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, 00:33 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- Ecuador
- Region
- South America
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 5,286 m (17,343 ft)
- Coordinates
- 2.005° S, 78.341° W
- Smithsonian number
- 352090
What kind of volcano is it?
Sangay 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 Mar 2021 | 2 | – | – |
| 12 Aug 1976 | 3 | 2 | – |
2 significant eruptions near Sangay 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
- CotopaxiEcuador · 148 km
- ReventadorEcuador · 228 km
- Nevado del RuizColombia · 837 km
- Sierra NegraEcuador (Galápagos) · 1,432 km
- FernandinaEcuador (Galápagos) · 1,480 km
- PoásCosta Rica · 1,506 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.