Volcanoes of the Pacific Ocean (711)

In historic times, at least 97 volcanoes have been active in Pacific Ocean, including Kilauea, Home Reef, and Ambrym volcanoes. A total of 987 eruptions have been witnessed and documented since around 1568 AD.
The table below lists the most recent volcanic eruptions, significant eruptive episodes or related events in Pacific Ocean since 2023.

Date	Volcano	VEI	Region	Damage
2000 or before - ongoing	Bagana	2	Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea
2021 Oct 2 - ongoing	Kavachi	?	Solomon Islands
2015 Oct 22 ? - ongoing	Langila Crater 2	2	New Britain, Papua New Guinea
2015 Oct 2 - ongoing	Tofua Lofia crater	0	Tonga Islands
2018 or before - ongoing	Tinakula	2	Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands
2018 May 10 ±10 d. - ongoing	Manam Southern and Main Craters	4	Papua New Guinea
2024 Dec 23 - ongoing	Kilauea Halema'uma'u Crater	?	Hawai'i		Info
Many short-lived lava fountain episodes from Halema'uma'u crater, producing lava flows that cover the crater floor with flash floods of new lava. As of 7 May 2025, 20 lava-fountaining episodes so far.
2024 May 24 -	White Island	?	Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
2024 Aug 5 -	Ahyi	?	United States, Mariana Islands
2024 Dec 4 -	Home Reef	?	Tonga Islands
2024 Oct 3 - Nov 12	Ambrym	?	Vanuatu
2024 Sep 15 - Sep 20	Kilauea Napau Crater	?	Hawai'i
2024 Jun 10 - Jul 4	Home Reef	?	Tonga Islands
2024 Jun 29 - Jun 30	Aoba	?	Vanuatu
2024 Jun 3	Kilauea Southwest Rift Zone	?	Hawai'i
2024 Mar 2 -	Fernandina SE flank	1	Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
2024 Jan 1 - Mar 27	Ahyi	?	United States, Mariana Islands
2024 Jan 13 - Jan 16	Ambrym	?	Vanuatu
2023 Jul 18 - Dec 31	Ulawun	3	New Britain, Papua New Guinea
2023 Dec 11 - Dec 21	Aoba	2	Vanuatu
2023 Oct 12 - Oct 19	Home Reef	1	Tonga Islands
2021 Sep 29 - 2023 Sep 16	Kilauea Halema`uma`u Crater.	0	Hawai'i
2023 Sep 14 - Sep 15	Ruby	1	United States, Mariana Islands
2023 Jul 7 (eruption 2000 or before - ongoing)	Bagana	2	Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea	light	Info
2023 Jul 7: An explosive eruption at Bagana on 7 July send a large ash, gas, and steam plume to high altitudes and caused significant ashfall in local communities. A report issued by theAutonomous Bougainville Government (Torokina District, Education Section) on 10 July noted that significant ash began falling during 2000-2100 on 7 July and covered most areas in the Vuakovi, Gotana (9 km SW), Koromaketo, Laruma and Atsilima villages. By about 2200 on 7 July the eruption plume had reached upper tropospheric altitudes based onsatellite images. Sulfur dioxide detections in satellite images from 8 July indicated that theplume, likely a mixture of gases, ice, and ash, had risen to 16-18 km (52,500-59,100 ft) a.s.l.,reaching the tropopause. Ashfall reportedly continued until 9 July. The ashfall covered vegetation, destroying bushes and gardens, and contaminated rivers and streams used for washing and drinking water; residents drank from coconuts and used fresh ground water accessible through bamboo pipes. (reference #13574) An explosive eruption at Bagana on 15 July was similar to one that occurred on 7 July. According to the Darwin VAAC, an eruption at around 0830 on 15 July produced an ash plume that rose to 16.5 km (54,000 ft) a.s.l. by 1000 and drifted N based on satellite images. Ground-based reports indicated that pyroclastic flows had occurred in the vicinity of the volcano; small deposits confined to one drainage were inspected by RVO during an overflight on 17 July, and were confirmed to be from the 7 July event. The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) issued a statement on 17 July noting significant impacts of ashfall in local communities. According to the National Disaster Centre, ashfall from the first event lasted until 10 July; an eruption was also reported by RVO on 14 July. Ashfall (presumably from events on 7 and 15 July) impacted about 8,111 people in Torokina, South Bougainville, including Tsito/Vuakovi, Gotana (9 km SW), Koromaketo, Kenaia, Longkogari, Kenbaki, Piva (13 km SW), and Atsinima (27km WNW) and in the Tsitovi district according to ABG. Significant ashfall was also reported in Ruruvu (22 km N) in the Wakunai District of Central Bougainville. An evacuation was called for the villages in Wakunai, where heavy ashfall had contaminated water sources; the communities of Ruruvu, Togarau, Kakarapaia, Karauturi, Atao, and Kuritaturi were asked to evacuate to a disaster center at the Wakunai District Station within 24 hours. Communities in Torokina, nearest to Bagana, were to immediately evacuate to the Piva District station. (reference 13575) According to new articles, more than 7,000 people needed temporary accommodations due to the eruption at Bagana, with about 1,000 of those in evacuation shelters. Ashfall was deposited over a broad area, contaminating water supplies, affecting crops, and collapsing some roofs and houses in rural areas. Schools were temporarily shut down. (reference #13576) The Internally Displaced Persons also provided account of destruction to the food gardens, cash crops, water source, as a result of ash falls. The current four affected wards are the main suppliers of fresh produce to Wakunai, Arawa and Buka, especially providing potato, cabbage, onion and sago tips. The number of livestock losses is unknown, but some have reported village chickens are dying and may be from drinking contaminated stagnant waters in ponds in the village. The main crops that 5 are affected across all four wards include, sweet potato (kaukau), taro, banana, sugar cane, Singaporean taro (taro kong-kong), sago palm tree and cooking banana. Reports of cocoa, vanilla and other economic crops suffered extensive damage as well due to the heavy ash falls. (reference #13578) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13574 Global Volcanism Program (2023): Report on Bagana (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 5 July-11 July 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Link #13575 Global Volcanism Program (2023): Report on Bagana (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 12 July-18 July 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Link #13576 Global Volcanism Program (2023): Global Volcanism Program, 2023. Report on Bagana (Papua New Guinea) (Sennert, S, ed.). Weekly Volcanic Activity Report, 19 July-25 July 2023. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey. Link #13578 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (2023): Rapid Food Security Assessment Report: Mt. Bagana Volcanic Eruption, Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Published 8 August 2023. Link Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
2022 Nov 18 ±1 d. - 2023 Jun 11	Ahyi	1	United States, Mariana Islands
2023 Feb 20 - May 28	Aoba	2	Vanuatu
2018 Jan 5 - 2023 May 14	Kadovar Summit and SE flank	2	East Sepik Province (Papua New Guinea) 3.630°S / 144.631°E
2023 Mar 28	Ulawun	1	New Britain, Papua New Guinea
2023 Jan 31 - Feb 23	Epi	1	Vanuatu
2023 Jan 31 (eruption 2023 Jan 31 - Feb 23)	Epi	0	Vanuatu		Info
2023 Jan 31: Reference #13678: The East Epi group, consisting of multiple submarine cones within a postulated caldera, lies off the eastern coast of Epi Island in Vanuatu (figure 6). Three cones (Epi A, B, and C) are located 4-10 km NNE from the Epi Island, with additional smaller cones south of Epi B (figure 7). Ephemeral islands were formed during eruptions in 1920 and 1953. Explosive activity was reported in 1958 and 1960, discolored water was often seen during 1971-1974 and 1988, a new vent was detected in 1979, and explosive activity occurred in February 1999, March 2002, and February 2004. A March 2004 bathymetric survey revealed that Epi B was about 300 m tall with a diameter of about 1.8 km at the base; the summit crater was about 150 m in diameter, the crater floor was at a depth of 90 m, and the highest point was on the NW rim of the summit crater, at a depth of 34 m. This report covers a new eruption during January through February 2023 that was characterized by phreatic explosions, a growing cone, and ash emissions. Information primarily comes from the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD). According to the Wellington VAAC, a low-level ash and sulfur dioxide plume was identified in satellite data at 0730 on 31 January 2023. VMGD reported that residents saw gas-and-steam emissions at the ocean’s surface around 0748 (figure 8) and phreatic explosions that ejected gas and tephra 100 m above the water (figure 9). Observers also reported that they saw a growing cone from ongoing ash emissions. The Wellington VAAC noted that the eruption was short-lived and had stopped by 1548 when the ash had dissipated. During an overflight on the afternoon of 31 January, gas-and-steam was observed rising from the ocean surface above Epi B, discolored water was visible around the eruption site, and pumice rafts were floating on the surface (figure 10). Several strands of pumice that drifted to the SW, NW, and N of Epi B were visible in Sentinel-2 satellite imagery on 2 and 14 February (figure 11). Gas-and-steam emissions were also visible at the surface for a few hours during 1 February. During 0700-1030 on 7 February residents observed minor, low-level gas-and-steam emissions above Epi B. The intensity of the gas-and-steam plumes varied, with stronger activity reported by local residents around 0600 on 8 February. On 23 February VMGD reported sustained seismicity and minor gas-and-steam plumes that only lasted a few hours. Two main explosions were recorded by different monitoring networks, including seismic stations and the infrasound array located in Papua New Guinea (Figure 3). Although this had no apparent consequence on the nearby communities, a small tsunami was however reported by locals and recorded on the coastal tide gauges of Port-Vila to the South and Luganville to the North showing a maximum amplitude of ~5 cm. (reference #13679) Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #13678 Global Volcanism Program (2023): Report on East Epi (Vanuatu) (Bennis, K.L., and Venzke, E., eds.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 48:3. Smithsonian Institution. #13679 Roger, J., Ashraf, S., Krippner, J., Assink, J., Gusman, A., Pelletier, B., Bani, P., Thomas, B.E.O., Kali, J. (2023): The East Epi Volcano submarine eruption and associated tsunami of 31 January 2023: a powerful event in the shadow of the HTHH eruption. Abstract NH51D-0505 presented at 2023 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, 11-15 Dec. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Pacific Ocean FAQ

+When was the last volcanic eruption in Pacific Ocean?

The last volcanic eruption in Pacific Ocean was from Kilauea volcano. It began in 2024 and is continuing (as of September 2025).

+When was the first documented volcanic eruption in Pacific Ocean?

The first historically documented eruption occurred around 1568 AD from Savo volcano.

+How often do volcanoes in Pacific Ocean erupt?

Since 1568 AD, Pacific Ocean has seen at least 987 historically documented eruptions.

+How active are the volcanoes in Pacific Ocean?

Pacific Ocean is volcanically extremely active: Since 1900, at least 88 volcanoes in Pacific Ocean have been active. Every year, at least one volcano has been in eruption in Pacific Ocean. The latest eruption from Kilauea volcano volcano is still continuing at present.

+When was the largest volcanic eruption in Pacific Ocean?

The largest eruption in Pacific Ocean in historic times was from Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano. It occurred during 2021 - 2022. It ranks as a plinian eruption with a magnitude 5 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale. Eruption of this size are often catastrophic on a regional scale.

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News

Sat, 6 Sep 2025, 12:15

Kīlauea Volcano (United States) activity update Sep 5, 2025 - Continuing eruption

The United States Geological Survey - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS-HVO) reported that the eruption continued at Kilauea on 5 September 2025 (local). The alert level at Kilauea remained at "Watch" (level 3 on a 4-level scale). The aviation alert level remained at "Orange" (level 3 on a 4-level scale). ... Read all

Fri, 5 Sep 2025, 08:15

Kīlauea Volcano (United States) activity update Sep 4, 2025 - Continuing eruption

The United States Geological Survey - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS-HVO) reported that the eruption continued at Kilauea on 4 September 2025 (local). The alert level at Kilauea remained at "Watch" (level 3 on a 4-level scale). The aviation alert level remained at "Orange" (level 3 on a 4-level scale). Minor glow was observed from cooling lava flows that covered 40–50% of the W portion of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor during episode 32. ... Read all

Thu, 4 Sep 2025, 06:15

Kīlauea Volcano (United States) activity update Sep 3, 2025 - Continuing eruption

The United States Geological Survey - Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS-HVO) reported that the eruption continued at Kilauea on 3 September 2025 (local). The alert level at Kilauea remained at "Watch" (level 3 on a 4-level scale). The aviation alert level remained at "Orange" (level 3 on a 4-level scale). ... Read all

Wed, 3 Sep 2025, 18:00

Yasur volcano (Vanuatu) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 27 August-2 September 2025 (Continuing Activity)

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) reported that activity at Yasur continued at a level of “major unrest,” as defined by the Alert Level 2 status (on a scale of 0-5) during August. Field photos and webcam images indicated that explosions continued, producing emissions of gas, steam, and/or ash during 1-17, 20-23, and 25-28 August. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions were identified in satellite images during 1-4, 6-14, 16-19, and 22-27 August, and low-level thermal anomalies were identified during 3-7, 10-13, 21, and 25-26 August. ... Read all

Wed, 3 Sep 2025, 18:00

Lopevi volcano (Vanuatu) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 27 August-2 September 2025 (Continuing Activity)

The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geohazards Department (VMGD) reported that seismic data confirmed continuing unrest at Lopevi during August. Low-level thermal anomalies identified in satellite images during 3, 6-7, and 15 August. Small fumarolic steam plumes were continuously emitted from the summit crater during 6-7, 9, and 11 August based on a webcam images and observation photos. ... Read all