Santa María was the Guatemalan volcano that erupted catastrophically in 1902 after centuries of dormancy.
The eruption began on 24 October 1902 and produced a powerful Plinian column, widespread ashfall, and pyroclastic flows. It devastated areas around Quetzaltenango and killed thousands of people. The volcano had shown no clearly documented major eruption for centuries, so the event caught communities and authorities unprepared.
In 1922, a new lava-dome complex called Santiaguito began growing inside the 1902 crater. Santiaguito has remained persistently active, making Santa María a major site for studying dome growth, explosions, and volcanic hazards.
Santa María is distinct from Fuego, Guatemala's frequently erupting cone, and Pacaya, another well-known active Guatemalan volcano. The 1902 eruption also occurred in the same year as major eruptions at Mount Pelée and La Soufrière, but the volcanoes and disasters were unrelated.