Banua Wuhu Volcano

Updated: May 4, 2025 07:50 GMT - refresh

submarine volcano

Sulawesi & Sangihe Islands (Indonesia), 3.14°N / 125.49°E

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Summit height: -5 m / -16 ft

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

Banua Wuhu is a submarine volcano in the Sangihe Islands, Indonesia, 45 km south of Awu. The volcano rises more than 400 m from the sea floor and almost reaches the surface, forming a shallow shoal at 5 m depth. Banua Wuhu, during some of its eruptions, has created temporary islands, which were eroded subsequently by wave action. Adjacent Mahengetang island belongs to the same volcanic edifice. Separate vents are found to the northeast (Kahakitang) and north (Kalama) of Banua Wuhu.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: Explosive
Banua Wuhu volcano eruptions: 1968, 1918-19, 1904, 1904, 1895, 1889-99, 1835

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Background

Several ephemeral islands were constructed during the 19th and 20th centuries. An island 90 m high was built in 1835, but had been eroded down to only a few rocks by 1848, and disappeared shortly after. Another new island formed in 1889 and reached a height of 50 m in 1894. 5 new craters were formed during an eruption that built a new island in 1904. Another new island that formed in 1919 had disappeared by 1935.

Significant volcanic eruptions: Banua Wuhu volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Banua Wuhu has had at least 6 confirmed eruptions, all documented by historical records or observations.
There is one uncertain or discredited eruption in 1968 from Banua Wuhu volcano.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Banua Wuhu volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Banua Wuhu can be found on the news page of Banua Wuhu volcano.

Date	Note	VEI	Damage
?? 1968 Sep 5 - Sep 9 ±4 d.	Uncertain Eruption	?
1918 Jul 18 - 1919 Dec 1 ±30 d.	Historical obs./docs.	3
1919 Apr 3 (eruption 1918 Jul 18 - 1919 Dec 1 ±30 d.)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3	light	Info
1919 Apr 3: On July 18, 1918 at 10:30 [local time] an eruption of an underwater volcano occurred near Mahengetang Island (to the south of Sangihe Island). The eruption recurred on August 20 at 23:00. This time, there was a strong sulphur smell and many poisoned fish were washed up on shore. In December 1918, the residents of Mahengetang Island moved to neighboring islands. The eruptions of the volcano continued at the beginning of 1919. The local superintendent, inspecting the island on February 2, witnessed a new eruption. At 16:00, two cliffs appeared from under the water. One of them soon disappeared, but the other remained until morning of the following day. It was impossible to approach the cliffs because of the heat. The surface of the sea was strewn with yellow stinking slag. A thick layer of ash settled on the island. In March and April [1919], the residents returned, but the volcano continued to be active. On April 2 [1919], a new strong eruption began, and a column of steam 4-5 km high rose over the volcano on the morning of April 3 [1919]. A number of homes caught fire in the ash and rockfall. The residents could not evacuate because of the rough sea. Water rose 1-2 m, sometimes 5 m, on an area of 16 m² over the volcano. This was accompanied by muffled shots. The temperature of the water and air was high. (above from reference #414) Cited references #414 Soloviev, S.L., and Ch.N. Go (1974): A catalogue of tsunamis on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean [dates include 173-1968. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Nauka Publishing House, Moscow, 439 p. [Canadian Translation of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences no. 5077, 1984, translation available from Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OS2, 447 p.] #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1918 Jul 18 (eruption 1918 Jul 18 - 1919 Dec 1 ±30 d.)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	3		Info
1918 Jul 18: On July 18, 1918 at 10;30 [local time] an eruption of an underwater volcano occurred near Mahengetang Island (to the south of Sangihe Island). The water was thrown high up, and was like a great flood. As far as the eye could see, the sea was covered with floating pumice. A loud roar was heard at 1:30 and again at about 4:00. (reference #414) Cited references #414 Soloviev, S.L., and Ch.N. Go (1974): A catalogue of tsunamis on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean [dates include 173-1968. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Nauka Publishing House, Moscow, 439 p. [Canadian Translation of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences no. 5077, 1984, translation available from Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OS2, 447 p.] #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/). #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1904 Aug 27	Historical obs./docs.	2
1904 Apr 17 - Apr 18	Historical obs./docs.	2
1895 Jul - Dec 26 ±5 d.	Historical obs./docs.	2
1889 Sep 6 - Sep 9	Historical obs./docs.	2
1889 Sep 6 (eruption 1889 Sep 6 - Sep 9)	Tsunami recorded Historical obs./docs.	2	moderate	Info
1889 Sep 6: Other tsunamis due to earthquakes accompanying eruptions are: - 1878 August 29 Okmok?, 1971 September 6 Tinakula, 1741 August 29 Osima-o-Sima(7), 1640 July 31 Komagatake, 1827 August 9 Avachinsky, 1889 September 6 Banua Wuhu, 1845 February 8 Soputan?, 46 A.D.? and 1650 September 29 Santorin, and 1693 February 13 Hekla. (reference #1686) Note: ref #10848 and others indicate uncertainty if Eruption of Ruang or Banua Wuhu. Reference #10953 lists Banua Wuhu as eruptive period 06 Sept to 09 Sept 1899 (VEI 1),and Ruang as starting in June 1889 with unknown end date (VEI 1) Cited references #132 Heck, N.H. (1947): List of seismic sea waves. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, vol. 37, no. 4, p. 269-286. #1686 Latter, J.H. (1981): Tsunamis of volcanic origin; summary of causes with particular reference to Krakatoa, 1883, Bulletin Volcanologique, Vol. 44, p. 467-490. #4659 Hamzah, Latief, Puspito, Nanang T., Imamura, Fumihiko (2000): Tsunami catalog and zones in Indonesia. Journal of Natural Disaster Science, vol. 22, no. 1, p. 25-43. #10848 Paris, Raphael, Adam D. Switzer, Marina Belousova, Alexander Belousov, Budianto Ontowirjo, Patrick L. Whelley, Martina Ulvrova (2014): Volcanic tsunami: a review of source mechanisms, past events and hazards in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea). Natural Hazards, vol. 70, p. 447-470. DOI:10.1007/s11069-013-0822-8 #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. #13347 Mutaqin, B. W., Lavigne, F., Hadmoko, D. S., and Ngalawani, M. N. (2019): Volcanic Eruption-Induced Tsunami in Indonesia: A Review, IOP C. Ser. Earth Env., 256, 012023, DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/256/1/012023 Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
1835 Apr 23 - Apr 26	Historical obs./docs.	2

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 Banua Wuhu volcano

2009 M7.2 earthquake
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurred 130 km NE of the volcano at a depth of 20 km on 12 February 2009.

1968 eruption
A small submarine eruption occurred on 5 or 6 September 1968. Water became hot and turbid above the volcano, but no island was formed. The eruption was preceded by an earthquake on the same day (5 Sep).
Source: GVP monthly reports

Banua Wuhu Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Banua Wuhu volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Banua Wuhu occurred during 1918 - 1919.

+How often does Banua Wuhu volcano erupt?

Since 1835, Banua Wuhu volcano has had at least 6 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 31.7 years.

+How active is Banua Wuhu volcano at present?

Banua Wuhu 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, Banua Wuhu has been in eruption one in 42 years on average. The last eruption was from 1918 until 1919 and ended 105 years ago.

+When was the largest eruption of Banua Wuhu volcano?

The largest eruption of Banua Wuhu volcano in historic times occurred during 1918 - 1919. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

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Banua Wuhu 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).