Karkar Volcano

Updated: Sep 15, 2025 09:17 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Northeast of New Guinea (Papua New Guinea), -4.65°S / 145.96°E

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Summit height: 1839 m / 6,033 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Last update: 13 Dec 2021

Karkar volcano along with its neighbor Manam is one of Papua New Guinea's most active volcanoes. The volcano is located on Karkar Island off New Guinea's north coast 64 km north of Madang.
The forested Karkar Island is 25 km long and 19 km wide and cut by 2 nested summit calderas. The 5.5-km-wide outer caldera was formed during one or more eruptions, the last of which occurred 9000 years ago. The inner caldera is almost circular in shape and has 3.2 km in diameter with vertical walls up to 300 m high. It was formed during violent eruptions sometime between 1500 and 800 years ago.
The historic activity at Karkar volcano, recorded since 1643, consisted in small explosions including strombolian and phreatic eruptions. Most eruptions came from Bagiai vent, a cinder cone inside the inner caldera.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: explosive
Karkar volcano eruptions: 2014(?), 2012(?), 2010(?), 2009(?), 1980(?), 1979, 1974-75, 1974, 1962(?), 1895, 1885, 1830(?), 1643

Latest nearby earthquakes

Date and Time	Mag / Depth	Distance / Location

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Background

Karkar is an basaltic to andesitic stratovolcano and part of a chain of 15 volcanic islands in the western part of the 1000 km long Bismarck volcanic arc.
Karkar volcano has flank cones on the northern and southern flanks of the volcano. A linear array of small cones extends from the northern rim of the outer caldera almost to the coast. The floor of the caldera is covered by young, mostly unvegetated andesitic lava flows.
(Source: Smithsonian / GVP volcano information)

Significant volcanic eruptions: Karkar volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Karkar has had at least 11 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 6 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.
Additionally, there are 8 uncertain or discredited eruptions from Karkar volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Karkar volcano since around 8000 BC. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Karkar can be found on the news page of Karkar volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Deaths
?? 2014 Mar 26 - Mar 27	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 2013 Jan 29 - Mar 15	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	3?
?? 2012 Feb 1	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	3?
?? 2010 Feb 25 - Feb 26	Uncertain Eruption Historical obs./docs.	1
?? 2009 May 1 ±30 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
?? 1980 Jan 7 - Jan 17	Uncertain Eruption	1
1979 Jan 12 ? - Aug 9	SE foot of Bagiai Historical obs./docs.	2
1979 Mar 8 (eruption 1979 Jan 12 ? - Aug 9)	Historical obs./docs.	2	2	Info
1979 Mar 8: Two volcanologists killed by hot high-velocity directed gas-and-ejecta blast at observation camp 800 m away on caldera rim. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1974 Dec 30 ? - 1975 Jun 26	Bagiai Historical obs./docs.	2
1974 Feb 14 - Aug 8	Bagiai Historical obs./docs.	2
?? 1962 ?	Uncertain Eruption	2?
1895 Jun 17 - Aug	Historical obs./docs.	2
1895 Jun 17 (eruption 1895 Jun 17 - Aug)	Historical obs./docs.	2	21	Info
1895 Jun 17: Island covered with falls of ash and lapilli. At least one person died in a mud flow. Gardens were affected and many (20?) children and old people died of starvation. It is possible that some of these deaths resulted from smallpox. Cited references #1412 Simkin, Tom, and Lee Siebert with the collaboration of Russell Blong, Jonathan Dehn, Christopher Newhall, Roland Pool, and Thomas C. Stein (1994): Volcanoes of the World, Second Edition, A Regional Directory, Gazetteer, and Chronology of Volcanism During the Last 10,000 Years, Geoscience Press, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, in association with Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, Washington, D.C., p. 164-176. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1885	Historical obs./docs.	2?
?? 1830	Uncertain Eruption	?
1643 AD Apr 20	Historical obs./docs.	3
1070 ±200 y. AD	South flank (Patilo Cone)	?
730 ? AD		4P
520 ±100 y. AD		4C
870 ±75 y. BC		?
7140 ±150 y. BC		4C

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

Eruptions of Karkar volcano

2009 and 2010 uncertain eruptions
High plumes, possibly ash bearing, from eruptions at Karkar were detected on satellite imagery reported from the VAAC Darwin in 25-26 November 2009, early December 2009 and during February 2010. However, independent observations could not confirm that an eruption took place. A possibility is that the plumes were caused by thunderstorm activity and / or some kind of low level activity. The Smithsonian does not count these events as eruptions.

2007-08 unrest and tree kill
An increase in thermal activity and gas emissions from vents on the SE and SW flanks of Bagiai cone were observed in 2007. Vegetation in the caldera died. In February 2008, 15-20 volcanic earthquakes were recorded daily at the volcano.
(Smithsonian / GVP monthly reports)

1997 activity
The last confirmed volcanic activity from Karkar was in September 1997 when fumarolic gases killed vegetation downwind.

1979 eruption and fatalities
Karkar volcano started to produce explosive eruptions in January 1979, following 6 months of increased seismic and fumarolic activity. This increase in activity was detected on 10 July 1978.
On 8 March 1979, an explosion at about 01h00 local time ejected incandescent bombs that could be seen from the New Guinea mainland in 30 km distance. The eruption killed the 2 volcanologists Robin Cooke and Elias Ravian who at that time camped on the volcano.

1974-75 eruption
After almost 80 years of being dormant, new eruptions began on 14 February 1974 and continued until 8 August 1974. The eruption consisted in strombolian activity from the summit vent of Bagiai cone in the caldera, and also produced basaltic-andesite lava flows from two vents on SE flank of Bagiai. Similar activity resumed in January 1975 with new effusive and explosive vents. Stronger ash explosions were observed between April and June 1975.
(Smithsonian / GVP monthly reports)

1895 eruption
Karkar volcano began to erupt on 17 June 1895 when a numerous earthquakes were noted. The eruption continued intermittently until August.

1885 eruption
Smoke and ash were seen at the volcano.
(from: Alexander E. Gates, David Ritchie,"Encyclopedia of earthquakes and volcanoes", Third Edition 2007, Facts on File Inc., New York)

1643 eruption
On 20 April 1843, Tasman saw "a great flame come steadily from the top of the mountain".
Journal of Abel Janszoon Tasman 1642-1643 - Part 4, online at: www.findingnz.co.nz/bd/ebd1.htm

Karkar Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Karkar volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Karkar occurred in 1979.

+How often does Karkar volcano erupt?

Since 1643 AD, Karkar volcano has had at least 6 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 64 years.

+How active is Karkar volcano at present?

Karkar volcano is occasionally active: Since 1900, it has had 3 eruptions, and been active during 3 years out of 126 as of now. This means, Karkar has been in eruption one in 42 years on average. The last eruption was in 1979 and ended 46 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Karkar volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Karkar volcano occurred in 730 AD. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

Latest satellite images

Karkar Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).