TL:DR – “Is a ‘Civilisation-Ending’ Volcano About to Erupt in the UK?”
- El Chichón volcano in Chiapas, Mexico, erupted in 1982, killing nearly 2,000 people and displacing tens of thousands.
- Recent seismic activity raised alarms about potential eruptions, with fears of a Plinian-type event.
- Experts are monitoring the volcano closely, but access to the crater is restricted due to hazardous conditions.
- Currently, there’s no evidence of rising magma, suggesting a large eruption is unlikely.
- Researchers use advanced monitoring techniques to mitigate risks linked to potential eruptions.
A ‘civilisation-ending’ volcano is stirring – could it trigger a major eruption?
El Chichón: A Volcano with a Frightening History
El Chichón, also known as El Chichonal, is a volcano with a frightening history. In 1982, a series of eruptions in north-western Chiapas, Mexico, killed close to 2,000 people as it completely destroyed villages, with tens of thousands more being displaced. Dense clouds of ash covered an eight-kilometre radius, blanketing the land up to 40cm in depth, resulting in expansive areas of countryside being devastated, including crops and cattle ranches. The eruption also created a 1km-wide crater which contains an acidic crater lake. (Picture: Getty)
Economic Consequences of El Chichón’s Eruptions
And it doesn’t stop there. The economic damage was said to have exceeded $117 million (in 1999 dollars) and this does not even consider the global impact. NASA reported that the eruption injected a huge amount of material into the stratosphere, which caused a knock-on effect for the global temperature, a drop which was estimated at 0.5 °C. One of the previous eruptions of this volcano has been theorised by a 2017 research paper to have contributed to the downfall of the Mayan people, giving it the title of a ‘civilisation-ending’ threat. So when there were fears that the volcano was beginning to stir again in 2025, it made sense that people were worried. (Picture: Getty) (Picture: Getty)
Monitoring El Chichón’s Activity
Volcanologists charged with monitoring the deadly volcano started to notice changes between June and August of 2025. An increase in seismic activity was recorded at El Chichón, sparking worries over possible imminent eruptions. The volcano could be undoubtedly dangerous were it to erupt. Unam Global reports it could cause a Plinian-type event, a highly explosive volcanic eruption characterised by a formation of a column of gas and ash that can reach heights of up to 20-30 kilometers. (Picture: Getty Images)
Safety Concerns Regarding the Crater
To add to the complications of monitoring its activity, it is reportedly no longer possible to descend into the crater of the volcano safely. The disturbed ground, the presence of gases, and the high temperatures pose direct risks, as the gases can cause issues from dizziness to respiratory damage, so access to the crater remains strictly prohibited. (Picture: Getty)
Expert Assessments and Investigations
In response to the heightened activity, specialists from various institutions along with researchers in geology, seismology, geochemistry, geodesy and civil protection traveled to the site to assess the situation based on scientific measurements and observations. Reports indicated that the volcano was moving away from its dormant state and into a period of increased activity. Dr. Patricia Jácome Paz gave the lecture The Chichón Volcano: Dynamics and Recent Observations in which she explained the volcano’s current state. (Picture: Getty)
Understanding the Current Activity of El Chichón
She indicated that the activity currently exhibited by Chichón is hydrothermal and limited to the crater, with the possibility of explosions caused by superheated water vapor. Though this is potentially a sign that the volcano is switching from a dormant state, scientists have said such emissions are common in active hydrothermal systems and do not necessarily point to an imminent eruption. (Picture: Getty)
Monitoring and Risk Management
Unam Global reports that, for now, there is no evidence that fresh magma is rising to the surface, so the possibility of a large eruption, like the one in 1982 for example, is considered minimal. Dr. Patricia Jácome Paz, part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explained that both the Secretariat and the Institute of Geophysics of UNAM have developed material to promote understanding of risks and combat rising fears about potential eruptions. They are also using technologies such as drones and remote sensing systems to monitor the situation safely. (Picture: Getty)