Overall Green Volcanic eruption for Poas
in Costa Rica

Event summary

Volcanic eruption Poas is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Name: Poas
Lat/Lon: 10.2 , -84.233
Event Date: 23 Apr 2025 07:39 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 1390000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 4210000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 2
Population exposure index: 5
Inserted at: 27 Mar 2025 06:50 UTC

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS score click here.

Historical Timeline


Volcano Timeline

IDLevelDateEruption DetailsSource
1 27 Mar 2025 07:50 JRC
2 23 Apr 2025 07:39 WASHINGTON

Exposed population

The eruption happened in Costa Rica , Province of Alajuela (population 578,124) . The nearest places are San Juan Norte, Altura, Poasito, Finca Ines, Toro, Fraijanes, Cabuyal, Bajos del Toro, Cinchona, Buena Vista, and Sardinal.

Radius Population
100 km 4.2 million people
75 km 3.9 million people
50 km 3.2 million people
30 km 1.4 million people
20 km 300000 people
10 km 15000 people
5 km <1000 people
2 km <1000 people

Detailed event map. European Union, 2026. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Alajuela Costa Rica 580000 people
Heredia Costa Rica 300000 people
San Jose Costa Rica 1.2 million people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
San Juan Norte Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 5 km
Altura Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 5 km
Poasito Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 6 km
Finca Ines Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 6 km
Toro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 7 km
Fraijanes Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 7 km
Cabuyal Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 7 km
Bajos del Toro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 7 km
Cinchona Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 7 km
Buena Vista Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 8 km
Montaña Azul Heredia Costa Rica Village - 8 km
Pueblo Nuevo Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Alto Palomo Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Finca Margarita Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Vara Blanca Heredia Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Cariblanco Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Sabana Redonda Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Cartagos Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 10 km
San Isidro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 10 km
Ujarraz Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 10 km
Angeles (Pata de Gatto) Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Trojas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Dulce Nombra Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
San Luis Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Colonia Virgen del Socorro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Concordia Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Colonia del Toro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Los Angeles Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 12 km
San Rafael Heredia Costa Rica Village - 12 km
Cerrillal Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 12 km
Cineo Esquinas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 13 km
San Miguel Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 13 km
Picado Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 14 km
Sabanilla Alajuela Costa Rica Village 1000 people 14 km
San Pedro Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 14 km
Ángeles Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 14 km
Poas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 14 km
Los Mesen Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 15 km
Finca la Macha Heredia Costa Rica Village - 15 km
Carmen Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 15 km
San Jerónimo Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 15 km
Robles Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 15 km
Carrizal Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 15 km
Crucero Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 15 km
San José de la Montaña Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Colonia Jesus Maria Heredia Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Pilas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Sacramento Heredia Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Roble Heredia Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Palmira Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Llano Bonito (Cirri Norte) Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Santa Gertrudis Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Aguna Rio Cuarto Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Itiquís Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 17 km
Corazón de Jesús Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 17 km
Marsella Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 17 km
Grecia Alajuela Costa Rica Village 12000 people 17 km
Poza Azul Heredia Costa Rica Village - 17 km
Sarchi Norte Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 18 km
Porrosatí Heredia Costa Rica Village - 18 km
Tuetal Norte Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 18 km
Venecia Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 18 km
Zarcero Alajuela Costa Rica Village 3500 people 18 km
La Legua Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 18 km
Birrí Heredia Costa Rica Village - 18 km
Rincon de Arias Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Laguna Alajuela Costa Rica Village <1000 people 19 km
San Juanillo Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Carrizal Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Tapesco Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Puente de Piedra Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 19 km
San Ramon Heredia Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Santa Barbara Heredia Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Tacares Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 20 km
La Union Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 20 km
Finca San Jose Heredia Costa Rica Village - 20 km
Naranjo Alajuela Costa Rica Village 12000 people 20 km
San Vicente Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 20 km
San José de la Montaña Heredia Costa Rica Village - 20 km
San Jose Sur Heredia Costa Rica Village - 20 km
Alajuela Alajuela Costa Rica City 47000 people 20 km
San Juan Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 20 km
San Antonio de Barranca Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Ángeles Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Bella Vista Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 21 km
San Juan Abajo Heredia Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Montecito Heredia Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Cuesta Colorada Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Buenos Aires Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Zapote Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 21 km
Porvenir Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Getsemaní Heredia Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Rincon de Salas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
San Pablo Heredia Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Alto Jimenez Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Ánimas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Bajo Latas (Fatima) Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Río Segundo Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Aguas Zarcas Alajuela Costa Rica Village - 22 km
El Bosque Heredia Costa Rica Village - 22 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Juan Santamaria International SJO 921 Civ. Paved Yes 9800 23 km
Tobias Bolanos International SYQ 994 Civ. Paved No 3200 29 km
Rio Frio RFR unknown 0 41 km
Guapiles GPL 269 Civ. Paved No 3600 48 km
San Pedro 64 0 55 km
Santa Clara de Guapiles 80 Civ. Paved No 3100 58 km
Chacarita 2 Civ. Paved No 4900 64 km
Santa Maria de Guacimo 10 Civ. Paved No 3200 68 km
San Alberto 27 Civ. Unpaved No 3200 82 km
El Carmen 18 Civ. Paved No 3200 83 km
Quepos Managua 32 Civ. Paved No 3600 85 km
Tortuquero TTQ unknown 0 89 km
Barra Del Colorado 3 Civ. Paved No 3200 94 km

Ports

Name LOCODE Country Distance
Caldera CRCAL Costa Rica 62 km
Puntarenas CRPAS Costa Rica 72 km
Quepos (Puerto Quepos) CRXQP Costa Rica 86 km
San Juan Del Norte Nicaragua 99 km

Dams

Reservoir Dam Name River Year Distance
Cachi Reventazon 1966 62 km
Arenal Arenal Arenal 1978 65 km

Nuclear plants

Tsunami impact

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Tsunami affected locations


Initial conditions

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.