Volcanic ash from Sabancaya volcano observed at 7 300 m (24 000 feet) a.s.l., Peru

Volcanic ash from Sabancaya in Peru was observed at 7 300 m (24 000 feet) above sea level at 00:05 UTC on December 25, 2025. The advisory was issued by the Buenos Aires VAAC at 00:20 UTC on the same day.

Satellite (GOES-E) and webcam data detected intermittent puff emissions of volcanic ash. The ash cloud was observed at the surface up to flight level 240—approximately 7 300 m (24 000 feet)—and was moving south at approximately 19 km/h (12 mph). No Aviation Color Code was stated in this advisory.

According to the Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, Sabancaya continued to produce daily gas-and-steam plumes rising 300–1 100 m (980–3 600 feet) above the crater rim and drifting less than 10 km (6.2 miles) in multiple directions during late November to early December 2025. The public was advised to stay outside a 12 km (7.5 miles) radius from the summit, with the alert level at Orange.

Sabancaya is an active stratovolcano located in southern Peru. Its hazards include ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and lahars. Cities at risk from volcanic activity include Arequipa, located about 70 km (43 miles) to the southeast, as well as smaller communities within the surrounding valleys.