Bulusan is a stratovolcano located in the Philippines at an elevation of 1,535 meters, situated within a subduction zone tectonic setting with continental crust exceeding 25 kilometers in thickness. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano has a total of 25 confirmed eruptions spanning a broad historical and prehistorical timeline, with the earliest recorded activity dating back to the 31st century BCE (-3050) and the latest confirmed activity occurring in April 2025.
Overview of Recorded Eruptions
The historical record for Bulusan includes 25 confirmed eruptions. Of these events, 22 possess recorded values on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). The largest recorded VEI for the volcano is 3.0. The eruptions have been documented using various evidence methods, ranging from uncalibrated carbon-14 isotopic dating for ancient events to direct reported observations for historical and modern activity.
The confirmed eruptions are distributed across multiple centuries:
- 31st century BCE: 1 event (starting around 3050 BCE)
- 10th century CE: 1 event
- 19th century CE: 4 events
- 20th century CE: 10 events
- 21st century CE: 9 events
Selected Historical Eruption Examples
The documented eruption record illustrates a variety of observation methods and magnitudes over time:
- 3050 BCE: An early prehistorical eruption indicated by uncalibrated 14C isotopic evidence.
- January 1916: A reported eruption lasting from January 18 to January 22, 1916, with a VEI of 2.0.
- April 1981: An eruption occurring from April 9 to April 27, 1981, reaching a VEI of 3.0, representing the largest recorded explosivity index for the volcano.
- November 2010 to May 2011: Summit crater activity reported between November 6, 2010, and May 13, 2011, with a VEI of 2.0.
- April 2025: A confirmed eruption beginning on April 28, 2025, and ending on April 29, 2025, with a VEI of 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
How many eruptions has Bulusan had?
Bulusan has 25 confirmed eruptions recorded in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program database.
When did Bulusan erupt?
The earliest recorded eruption in the database dates to the 31st century BCE (-3050), and the latest confirmed eruption occurred in April 2025.
What is the largest VEI recorded for Bulusan?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Bulusan is 3.0.
Image credits
- Photo by Chris Newhall, (U.S. Geological Survey). — Wikimedia Commons source — Public domain
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.