Travel Insurance and Volcanoes
There are many types of volcanoes, but the kind that most people are familiar with are those that are more visible, forming conical mountains. And in an era of 24-hour news cycles and social media, many of the more famous volcanoes have become popular tourist attractions.
Volcanoes are typically classified as:
-
Active – these are volcanoes that erupt regularly. However, since volcanoes can have lifespans that stretch over millions of years, an active volcano could show signs of activity without having erupted in decades.
-
Dormant (or Inactive) – dormant volcanoes are those that aren’t showing any signs of major activity but could still become active at any time. Some dormant volcanoes haven’t erupted for thousands of years but have the potential to become active again.
-
Extinct – these are volcanoes that are considered unlikely to ever become active or erupt, since they no longer have a magma supply.
Unfortunately, the volcanoes that attract the most attention, and by extension tourists, are those that are active, and to a lesser extent, those that are dormant. And both types pose risks.
Why are volcanoes dangerous?
Many people assume that the only risk posed by active volcanoes is in the form of lava and pyroclastic flows associated with various types of volcanic eruptions. While these are serious hazards, with pyroclastic flows able to travel at speeds of up to 700 km/hr, there are other hazards associated with active volcanoes. These include mudflows (or lahars), avalanches, and debris flows - which are lahars that have collected rocks, trees, and other debris together as it moves. And lahars, debris flows, and avalanches don't only occur during an eruption; they can happen days or weeks after an eruption has ended, when rain interacts with any volcanic ash that has settled around the volcano.
Other risks that can affect people who aren't even close to an erupting volcano are earthquakes, and the ash that is spewed out by some volcanoes. Volcanic ash can be carried over a great distance by air currents, resulting in breathing difficulties and other respiratory ailments, along with skin and eye irritations. Aircraft can also be affected by volcanic ash, with the particles in the ash able to result in catastrophic engine failure. The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland famously caused extensive disruptions to air travel in and around Europe, with several countries shutting down air traffic completely for almost a week.
More recently, a lava bomb hit a tour boat that takes visitors to see lava plunging into the ocean from the Kïlauea volcano in Hawaii, injuring 23 tourists.
Volcanic Activity and Travel Insurance
Insurers place embargoes on travel insurance cover to regions with active volcano eruptions, or very recent eruptions. The embargoes don't affect travel insurance policies purchased and activated before a certain date. But any policies bought and activated after a specified date will have no cover for claims resulting from any volcanic activity, including delayed or cancelled flights as a result of volcanic ash.
When buying travel insurance, always ask if any embargoes are in place for the destination(s) you will be travelling to. Insurers also have their own travel advisories or travel alerts pages on their websites which you can also check. If any advisories or alerts are issued after you have already booked your trip - and bought travel insurance - you can contact the insurer for advice on how you might be affected. Having travel insurance that includes cover for cancellation or deferment costs is always advisable in such cases, since it will prevent you from being completely out-of-pocket if you are forced to cancel your trip due to volcanic activity.
List of Currently Erupting Volcanoes
|
Country |
Name of Volcano |
Most Recent Activity |
Current Status |
|
Antarctica |
Mount Erebus |
1972 to present |
Erupting |
|
|
Mount Michael |
November 2016 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Colombia |
Nevado del Ruiz |
December 2014 to July 2018 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Costa Rica |
Poás |
April 2017 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Rincón de la Vieja |
2015 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Volcán Turrialba |
2010 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Ecuador |
Cotopaxi |
August 2015 to January 2016 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Reventador |
2008 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Sangay |
1934 to present |
Erupting |
|
|
Tungurahua |
2000 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Ethiopia |
Erta Ale |
2005 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
Guatemala |
Santa María |
1922 to present |
Erupting |
|
|
Volcán de Fuego |
2002 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
India |
Barren Island |
January 2017 |
Restless |
|
Indonesia |
2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
|
Batu Tara |
2007 to 2015 (Ongoing) |
Restless |
|
|
Dukono |
1933 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Gamalama |
July to August 2015 (Ongoing) |
Restless |
|
|
Karangetang |
February to June 2015 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Mount Sinabung |
April 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Mount Sirung |
July 2015 (Ongoing) |
Dormant |
|
|
Raung |
April to August 2015 |
Dormant |
|
|
Sangeang Api |
June 2017 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Semeru |
1967 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Merapi |
May 2018 |
Erupting |
|
Italy |
Mount Etna |
2014 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Stromboli |
1934 to present |
Erupting |
|
Japan |
Mount Asama |
June 2015 (Ongoing) |
Restless |
|
|
Mount Hakone |
July 2015 |
Restless |
|
|
Mount Shindake |
June 2015 |
Restless |
|
|
Nishinoshima |
April 2018 |
Dormant |
|
|
Sakurajima |
1955 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Shinmoedake |
April 2018 |
Erupting |
|
|
Suwanosejima |
2004 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Mexico |
Popocatépetl |
2004 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Volcán de Colima |
2013 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Restless |
|
Nicaragua |
Concepción |
May to July 2015 (Ongoing) |
Restless |
|
|
San Cristóbal |
June 2015 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Papua New Guinea |
Bagana |
2000 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Kadovar |
2018 |
Erupting |
|
|
Manam |
2010 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Peru |
Sabancaya |
November 2016 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Ubinas |
October 2016 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Philippines |
Mount Mayon |
January to March, 2018 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
Réunion |
Piton de la Fournaise |
July 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
Russia |
Chirinkotan |
September 2017 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Chyornie Bratya |
July 2016 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Karymsky |
2001 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Shiveluch |
1999 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Zhupanovsky |
2014 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Restless |
|
United States |
January 1983 to present |
Erupting |
|
|
|
Mount Cleveland |
April 2016 |
Minor Activity or Eruption Warning |
|
|
Mount Shishaldin |
2014 to 2015 |
Dormant |
|
Vanuatu |
Ambrym |
2009 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
|
|
Mount Yasur |
1774 to 2018 (Ongoing) |
Erupting |
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