India's sole active volcano, located on Barren Island in the Andaman Sea, experienced two minor eruptions on September 13 and September 20, 2025. These events serve as a reminder of the dynamic geological forces at play beneath the Earth's surface.
The uninhabited island, situated approximately 140 kilometers northeast of Port Blair, lies at the convergence of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, a region known for seismic and volcanic activity. The first recorded eruption of Barren Island dates back to 1787, and it has since experienced numerous volcanic episodes, including significant events in 1991, 2005, 2017, and 2022. The recent September 2025 eruptions add to this historical sequence. Notably, the second eruption occurred just two days after a magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook the Andaman Sea on September 18, 2025, highlighting the interconnectedness of seismic and volcanic phenomena in the region.
Barren Island is a stratovolcano rising approximately 354 meters above sea level, with a caldera about 2 kilometers wide. Its geological formation is a testament to millions of years of volcanic activity, with the oldest subaerial lava flows estimated to be 1.6 million years old. The island covers a total area of 8.34 square kilometers.
While these recent eruptions have not caused significant environmental or population impact, scientific institutions, including the Geological Survey of India and various universities, closely monitor the island. They utilize Barren Island as a living laboratory to study plate tectonics and volcanology, employing satellite and ship-based monitoring to gain insights into subterranean magma systems. The ongoing activity at Barren Island provides valuable data for understanding our planet's continuous evolution.