India’s only mud volcano erupts after 20 years in Andamans

Dormant for more than two decades, India’s only mud volcano at Baratang in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands erupted again on October 2, officials said.

“The mud volcano here is formed by gases deep inside the earth from decaying organic matter. These gases push mud to the surface, creating bubbles and craters. It is one of the must-visit spots in the Andamans,” an official explained.

Mud volcanoes are natural geological formations where mud, water, and gases escape from underground layers. Unlike regular volcanoes, they do not emit lava but often produce large mounds of mud and bubbling craters. They are found in areas rich in hydrocarbons and decaying organic matter. Some of the world’s other active mud volcanoes are located in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and Trinidad, highlighting how rare such formations are in India.

A senior police officer added, “We received information around 1:30 pm on Thursday about a violent eruption at Jarwa Creek, Baratang. Such a big eruption was last reported in 2005. It was accompanied by a deafening sound like an explosion. Local police and forest officials immediately visited the site.”

Baratang, located in the North and Middle Andaman district about 150 km from Port Blair, is a popular tourist destination because of this unique natural phenomenon.

The eruption has formed an earth mound of about 3-4 metres in height, with muddy soil spreading over more than 1,000 sq metres. Mud and smoke continue to emerge from the site. For safety, tourist access has been suspended, and the forest department has closed approach routes. Authorities have also informed the Geological Survey of India.

“The safety of tourists and local residents has been ensured. The Fiber Boat Owners’ Association and local tourist vehicle operators have been notified about the suspension of movement toward the site,” the officer said.

Earlier, minor volcanic eruptions were recorded twice in eight days at Barren Island, on September 13 and 20. Located about 140 km from Port Blair, Barren Island is uninhabited and lies at the junction of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates. Its first recorded eruption was in 1787, followed by eruptions in 1991, 2005, 2017, and November 2022.

“The mud volcano at Baratang and the active volcano on Barren Island are separate. While Barren Island showed activity in September, the recent eruption on October 2 is specific to Baratang,” the official clarified.