Sporadic ash emissions from Sabancaya volcano observed at 7 600 m (25 000 feet) a.s.l., Peru

Volcanic ash from Sabancaya in Peru was observed at 7 600 m (25 000 feet) above sea level at 05:50 UTC on March 31, 2026. The advisory was issued by the Buenos Aires VAAC at 06:35 UTC on the same date.

The observed ash cloud height was reported to reach flight level FL250, which corresponds to 7 600 m (25 000 feet) above sea level. The ash cloud was described as a sporadic puff, moving south, and was hard to detect in satellite data. Webcam observations confirmed the sporadic puff emission up to FL250. No Aviation Color Code was stated in this advisory.

According to the Global Volcanism Program’s latest summary, Sabancaya’s eruptive activity continued through mid-March 2026, with daily gas, steam, and ash plumes rising as high as 1.8 km (5 900 feet) above the summit, and occasional explosions generating ash plumes up to 2 km (6 600 feet) above the summit. The public was warned to stay outside a 12 km (7.5 miles) radius from the summit.

Sabancaya is a stratovolcano located in southern Peru. Its primary hazards include ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and lahars, all of which can threaten nearby towns such as Cabanaconde and Chivay, located within 30 km (19 miles) of the volcano. Sabancaya’s eruptions often result in airborne ash that impacts local air traffic and downwind communities.