March 2021 Eruption of Pacaya
Pacaya in Guatemala erupted in March 2021 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1.
Where it erupted
Pacaya, Guatemala, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
A new fast-moving flow appeared on the SW flank during the second half of March and rapidly reached 1.5 km in length, flowing NW then SW, ultimately extending over 3 km. It had multiple branches that caused vegetation fires, destroyed significant cropland (avocado and coffee plantations), and crossed roads before stopping in mid-April. (ref #13004)
24 families were impacted/affected and 3.5 hectares (~8.6 acres) of damage to avocado and coffees crops. (ref #13003)
Other significant eruptions of Pacaya
More
Every eruption in 2021The 2000sPacayaEarthquakes near Pacaya
Sources
Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 7543.